Search Results

< Back DAT Time of Year Regional News 21 Oct 2024 Link to Regional News write up on DAT Fest . Article is in the bottom left of the page with a mid shot of Susan. Susan is wearing their awesome glasses and a stripey coloured shirt. The article text reads: In 2022, the Disabled Artists Festival of Theatre entered stage right, making its grand exit arm in arm with a Wellington Theatre Award for social change. DAFT returned in 2023, delighting audiences anew. Now, the festival returns bigger, brighter, and more accessible than ever before as DAT Fest. Showcasing Wellington based d/Deaf, neurodivergent, and disabled (DND) performing artists, writers, and filmmakers, DAT Fest will take over Te Auaha’s fourth floor for two weeks from the 2nd to the 17th of November. This means there will be multiple spaces for workshops, classes, rehearsals, and even hanging out and chilling – co-director Kate Spencer has already earmarked a room for a low-sensory quiet zone. The kaupapa of DAT Fest is making sure every person possible can enjoy the events, co-director Susan Williams [pictured] says. Every year, the festival ensures that celebrating and recognising the identity, community, and work of DND artists and audiences in the performing arts in Wellington remains front of mind. This principle rings true in 2024 too, with all kinds of inclusive and accessible events to look forward to. Starting with a launch and lunch on the 2nd, the DAT Fest in-person and online programme includes a poetry session on the 3rd, a comedy night on the 7th, a jazz evening on the 8th, a whānau-friendly day on the 9th, a sexy cabaret brunch on the 10th, Science for Sociopaths on the 15th, and the closing event DAT’s All, Folks on the 17th. This is just the start, so get hyped for the one and only DAT Fest. Previous Next

< Back No Labels Interview with Susan and Lauren 7 Oct 2024 October 8th: Disabled Artists Theatre Festival Our co-director Susan Williams and Accessibility Co-ordinator Lauren Hayes were interviewed on the No Labels podcast about DAT Fest. To listen to the podcast, follow this link ( link to No Labels podcast ). Previous Next

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Audio FAQ DAT Fest FAQ 00:00 / 07:24 When is DAT Fest 2024? Where is DAT Fest 2024? Am I 'disabled enough'? How does DAT Fest help performers during the festival? Can you help me with a new show that I’m working on? Can I present a work in progress? I don’t have much experience. Can I still perform? Who can perform, teach, and attend? Is participating in the festival only for Disabled, d/Deaf, and Neurodivergent or chronically ill people? I’m in the wider Wellington region, but it’s hard for me to get to the venue. Can you help with transport? I am not from Wellington. Can I perform, teach, or participate? Will there be online events and shows? Do I have to be from New Zealand to attend an online event or show? Can I bring a support person? Can I bring a guide dog or disability assistance dog? How much are performers/shows paid? How much are teachers/workshop leaders paid? Do I have to use the online form to submit an expression of interest? How can I contact you? What access is available? When is DAT Fest 2024? When is DAT Fest 2024? 2nd November to 17th November 2024 Where is DAT Fest 2024? Te Auaha, 65 Dixon Street, Te Aro, Wellington https://www.teauahaevents.com/ Where Am I ‘disabled enough’? Yes, you are! You don’t need a diagnosis or proof to be part of the festival. We accept people who experience all kinds of disabilities. Disabled Enough How does DAT Fest help performers during the festival? We give you the following: A physically accessible venue, including accessible toilets technician basic theatre lighting and sound setup NZSL translation Audio Description Front of house ticketing volunteers to help the audience one or two rehearsals in the space some basic marketing some storage space for props/set/costume during the fest for online shows: streaming links, platform, and operation a quiet space other ways to help you, just ask! DAT Fest help performers Can you help me with a new show that I’m working on? We don’t have enough money to help you with the cost of writing, producing, and rehearsing. Sorry. My new show Can I present a work in progress? Of course! But, like we say above, we can’t help with the costs of developing the show. Work in progress I don’t have much experience, can I still perform? Yes. We welcome performers of all experience levels, and help you find the show or slot that might be right for you. not much experience Who can perform, teach, and attend? Is participating in the festival only for Disabled, d/Deaf, and Neurodivergent, chronically ill, etc. people? It depends on the role. Solo performers: DND identifying people only please. Group performances: Some members need to be DND. Going to a workshop: DND identifying only please. Teachers: DND people are preferred, but it’s not a requirement. Audio Describing: Everyone welcome. Volunteering: Everyone welcome Watching a show: Everyone welcome Going to a social event: Everyone welcome Who can perform participating I’m in the wider Wellington region, but it’s hard for me to get to the venue, can you help with transport? Probably. Talk to us and we’ll see what we can do. transport I am not from Wellington, can I perform, teach, or participate? Yes. However, we cannot afford to transport people here, or pay for accomodation. If you can get here, you are very welcome. not Wellington Will there be online events and shows? Yes. Do I have to be from New Zealand to attend an online event or show? No, you can be from anywhere. All times are New Zealand Standard Time. All prices are New Zealand Dollars. Events are primarily in English, with translation into New Zealand Sign Language. If you want to be paid to perform in an online show, or teach a workshop, you will need to have the right to earn money in NZ, and an NZ bank account or payment method. online NZ Can I bring a support person? Yes, absolutely. Please book a free ‘companion ticket’ for them. support person Can I bring a guide dog or disability assistance dog? Yes, of course. That is the law and we are happy to uphold it. guide dog How much are performers/shows paid? We cannot guarantee an amount, sorry! performers pay How much are teachers/workshop leaders paid? Profit share, plus potential top-up. Our workshop participants pay koha, the total amount is then divided by the number of workshops, and paid to the workshop teacher(s). If we have the capacity in the budget, we hope to be able to top this amount up a little. teachers pay Do I have to use the online form to submit an expression of interest? No. We accept expressions of interest in audio, NZSL, email, messenger etc. If you want to know if we can accept your preferred format, or, how to submit, please reach out to us. How can I contact you? Fill in the "contact us" form at the bottom of this page, email: Hello.datfest@gmail.com or message the Facebook page. online form how contact What access is available? Please check each individual event to confirm. NZSL interpretation. Audio Description. Wheelchair accessible venue (wheelchair accessible bathroom, lift access, ramp access to theatre, wheelchair seating space in theatre) Quiet space for taking breaks as needed. Volunteers available to help people. Seating options including chairs with and without arms, soft seating (cushions/beanbags), floor seating space. Some assistance with transport within the region may be available. A code of Conduct, known as our Shared Expectations, to help protect against discrimination. An access fund to help people attend. Sliding scale ticket and workshop costs – pay what you can. Some online events. Please get in touch if there is something else that would support you to attend. Email access.datfest@gmail.com . what access

Previous Years This page contains information about previous years' programmes. DAFT 2023 DAFT 2023 was the second year of DAFT. Events Saturday 16th September, 5pm-7:30pm Two/Fiftyseven NZSL/AD The Launch Party It’s back! Bolder, longer, more accessible, and with slightly more joint pain, it’s DAFT 2023! Join us at two/fiftyseven on Willis St at 5pm to celebrate the launch of DAFT 2023. There'll be speeches (short ones), mini performances, food, the chance to speed date an artist, and plenty of opportunity to celebrate the talent found in the d/Deaf, Disabled, and neurodiverse communities. All welcome. Facebook Event: The Launch Party Your Body Is a Wasteland Saturday 16th to Saturday 30th September, 5pm Online Sometime in the future, their world ends. That's only the beginning. Piece together digital remnants of a forgotten world, following our protagonist as they travel the apocalyptic wastes. A deeply felt story of chronic illness, time, and hope. When your body betrays you, where can you turn? You will be able access the show on this website. Facebook Event: Your Body Is a Wasteland Social Sundays Sundays 17th and 24th September, 2pm-4:30pm Two/Fiftyseven NZSL/AD Spend time getting to know your fellow artists and build community! Bring your crafts, your art, your writing, your favourite board games, some snacks, and hang out! Stay for the whole time or drop in for a quick chat. Everyone welcome. Facebook Event: Social Sundays Five Slices of Another Life – development season Thursday 21st to Friday 23rd September, 7pm-9pm Sunday 24th September, 4pm-6pm BATS Theatre NZSL, AD Two women wait to be rescued from a burning building. Another finds salvation in a box of chickens. Things get awkward in a cafe. A detective investigates himself, and a blind seer delivers one last prophecy. Five new Kiwi short plays, written by and featuring disabled and neurodiverse folk – are you ready to step into another life? This show has NZSL on Sept 21st and 22nd Audio Description on Sept 23rd and 24th Relaxed Performance Sept 24th Facebook Event: Five Slices of Another Life – development season BATS Event: Five Slices of Another Life – development season Palsy it Up! Sunday 24th September, 2pm-3:30pm Friday 29th September, 6:30pm-8pm BATS Theatre AD, Subtitles If you liked ten minutes of Dave Batten last year, you're in luck! The rest of his set is HERE in full-length glory. Expect self-deprecation, social commentary, hearty guffaws, and unrestrained honesty. Dave presents his comedy as a slide show with inbuilt subtitles. He is a comedian with athetoied cerebral palsy who loves making people laugh. Facebook Event: Palsy It Up! BATS Event: DAFT - Palsy It Up Scratch Night 26th September, 6:30pm-8:30pm BATS Theatre NZSL, AD All new performances from DAFT participants! Witness a wide range of talent from individuals and groups! Check out how many art forms we can cram into one evening! Bite-sized work-in-progress, raw, unpolished new and developing pieces from local writers, dancers, makers, and creatives. Have you (a disabled and/or D/deaf artist) got something you want to share? Get in touch! You're guaranteed a live, generous, art-loving audience. Facebook Event: Scratch Night BATS Event: DAFT Scratch Night Body of Work 28th September, 6:30pm-8pm BATS Theatre AD ‘Body of Work’ by Melanie McKerchar is a poetry show that explores what it means to be a woman with a body that is chronically ill, disabled, and plus sized. There will be laughter, tears, wombs, and boobs. It is hard work loving a body that society deems unworthy, but this show shouts: all bodies are good bodies! Facebook Event: Body of Work BATS Event: DAFT - Body of Work Chronic Club Caberet 30th September, 6:30pm-9:30pm BATS Theatre AD Celebrate the success of DAFT '23 with MC (and festival co-director) Creatif Kate as she hosts (probably horizontally) an extravaganza of talent from all corners of the cabaret scene. Opera, burlesque, drag, and performance art like you've never seen before! Starring: Laura Loach, Vixen Temple, ShaZaah, Blood Baby, Maggie Rose as LaLa, & more! Stick around for the closing ceremony and after party! Facebook Event: Chronic Club Cabaret BATS Event: DAFT - Chronic Club Cabaret Workshops Accessible Improv Fun Tuesday 19th September, 10am-2pm BATS Theatre NZSL, AD Learn from a fellow disabled improvisor (and festival co-director!), and throw away your inhibitions, expectations, and a decent chunk of your dignity. Accessible Improv Fun. (A joyful taster for disabled and D/deaf people to try improv, play games, and connect.) Facebook Event: Improv Workshop One BATS Event: DAFT Improv Workshop with Susan Williams Comedy Workshop Thursday 21st September, 2pm-5pm BATS Theatre NZSL, AD Getting Started in Stand-up Comedy A fun no-pressure overview of everything you need to know to get a mic in your face for the first time. Learn techniques for joke-writing and delivery, where and how to get practice, and how to avoid many common mistakes new performers make. Register via BATS website. Koha (suggested $20), but pay what you can. Facebook Event: Comedy Workshop with Neil Thornton BATS Event: Daft Workshop - Neil Thornton's Comedy Class Drama Workshop Friday 22nd September, 10am-1pm BATS Theatre Join award-winning Silver Noodle Soup Film and Theatre Company for a drama workshop like no other! These festival favourites create a safe and joyful space. Facebook Event: Drama Workshop with Silver Noodle Soup BATS Event: DAFT Drama Workshop with Silver Noodle Soup Techniques for Disabled Improvisors Tuesday 26th September, 10am-2pm BATS Theatre NZSL, AD Workshop two: Techniques for disabled improvisors. (For disabled and D/deaf performers with some prior experience, who want to take their improv skills to the next level.) Facebook Event: Improv Workshop 2 BATS Event: Techniques for Disabled Improvisers Writing Workshop Wednesday 27th September, 2pm-4pm Online Join festival Co-director Creatif Kate for an online writing workshop. Bring rough drafts, new ideas, and blank pages to shape into something special. Suitable for all levels. Please let the team know your accessibility needs when you sign up! Facebook Event: Writing Workshop with Creatif Kate Booking Information: Book via daftfestivalteam@gmail.com and you'll be sent the Zoom link. Drag Workshop Friday 29th September, 2pm-5pm BATS Theatre AD Discover your drag character, create a catchy name, and bring them to life! Learn about stage presence, song choice, incorporating your existing talents, and how to drive a crowd wild with excitement! Facebook Event: Drag Workshop with Willy SmacknTush BATS Event: Drag Workshop Dance Workshop Friday 29th September, 2pm-4pm BATS Theatre Join WIDance for a playful dance experience, where we will warm up to some fun tunes, create mini dances, and find new ways of moving and grooving on the dance floor. Facebook Event: Dance Workshop with WIDance BATS Event: DAFT Workshop - Dance and Movement DAFT 2022 DAFT 2022 was the first year of DAFT. Events & Shows Launch Party & Living Library Sunday 18 September, 1pm - 3pm BATS Theatre Book Tickets Here NZSL Interpreted Event Welcome speech/es, info about the Festival programme and kaupapa…, sharing food and drinks, a living library/speed date an artist component where launch goers can meet and interview DAFT artists about them and their creative work. Welcome to the launch of DAFT - the Disabled Artists' Festival of Theatre! We'll have welcome speeches, info about the Festival programme and kaupapa, we'll share food and drinks, and you'll find a living library where you can speed date an artist - meet and interview DAFT participants and ask about them and their creative work! Wellington Feminist Poetry Tuesday 20 September, 7.30pm Fringe Bar Book Tickets Here The Wellington Feminist Creative Community brings you its curated Poetry Night, this month in association with DAFT. Eight disabled poets bring their finest work to your Tuesday night, with MC Creatif Kate. All proceeds go back to the poets. DAFT x Barbarian SCRATCH NIGHT Thursday 22 September, 7pm Two/Fifty Seven ( Venue entrance: 70 Victoria Street) Book Tickets Here Volunteer Audio Described Scratch Night offers artists and audiences an opportunity to present short excerpts or ideas of work-in-development, offering audiences bite sized morsels of wild new work and artists an opportunity to test and present work in front of a live, generous, art-loving audience. Come and witness some of Poneke’s finest disabled artists in what promises to be an unforgettable night. If you are a disabled poet, dancer, comedian, writer, performer or singer and want to present your work please email Jessie . Illegally Blind Friday 23 September, 7pm Two/Fifty Seven ( Venue entrance: 70 Victoria Street) Book Tickets Here Integrated Audio Description Touch Tour 6.30pm Tw: Ableism, fatphobia, queerphobia Tragedy! Hardship!! Inspiration!!! This. Is. NOT. That. Show. Susan is a perfectly normal queer, fat, functionally blind, Autistic, chronically and mentally ill, nonbinary person, who just happens to be collecting diagnoses faster than they collect eel facts. In this not-so-solo solo show, Susan just wants to get stuff done. Instead, they end up on an epic quest, battling sock-puppets, ableist audio-describers, a pile of laundry, and people who don’t provide digital copies of important documents. Drawing on twenty years of theatre and performance skills, Susan brings their real-life experiences to the stage. The result is a whimsical romp through the world of identity and shattered expectations, mixing traditional theatre with stand up comedy, poetry, improvisation, and more silly voices than you can shake an eel at. Content warning: Illegally Blind contains references to ableism, fatphobia and queerphobia. Spring Shoots: Performance & Film work from Silver Noodle Soup Saturday 24 September, 7pm Two/Fifty Seven ( Venue entrance: 70 Victoria Street) Book Tickets Here Volunteer Audio Described Witness 2022 Wellington Airport Award Winners, Silver Noodle Soup. The Film & Theatre Company presents another legendary theatre performance programme and premiers their latest film SNS 4! SNS artists roll out the red carpet to showcase their ensemble skills in movement & song including resident writer Maggie Rose Paine’s Instruments Have a Christmas Party… where violins going by the clump, French horns sneeze and bassoons go unheeded… and some solo acts to boot! SNS4 is a 30 minute, captioned, roller coaster ride of Silver Noodle Film Making Workshop 2021 artists doing what they love best: big song hits, drag, storytelling, dance, movie scenes, magic tricks and comedy. Sexy Sunday Shenanigans Sunday 25 September, 7.30pm Fringe Bar Book Tickets Here Volunteer Audio Described Slide into Sunday evening with a truly vaudevillian variety show, featuring tantalising talent from the top tier of Wellington’s performance world. All corners of the cabaret scene are covered: burlesque, pole, comedy, drag, poetry, music, a mixture of them all – we've found only the finest for you to wind down the weekend with. Starring: Laura Loach, Blood Baby, Nathan Bond, Vixen Temple, EJ Barrett, Dave Batten, ShaZaah, Ness Quick Created, produced, and hosted by Wellington's wildest woman – Creatif Kate (winner 2021 Welly Comedy Award for Innovation). Made possible with the support of the WCC Living Wage for Artists Fund. Workshops Intro to Improv Workshop Monday 19 September, 10am - 2pm (or come for the first two hours). BATS Theatre Register Here A workshop for disabled people which puts our experiences first. Have you always wanted to try improv, or do you already love it? And are you disabled or have a long term mental or physical condition? Come along and learn how to make theatre on the spot, have some fun, and unlock your spontaneity! No experience necessary. This will be a fun jam, and an exploration of skills, for any experience level. Learn from a fellow disabled improvisor, and throw away your inhibitions, expectations, and a decent chunk of your dignity. As we play games, look over some basics, and have an amazing time connecting with each other, and above all, making stuff up!!! All the exercises and games are adaptable, and no one will make you do something you are uncomfortable with. The tutor is blind and neurodivergent, so the day will absolutely be blind and ND friendly. Inside Drag with Les Femmes Wednesday 21 September, 1 1am - 1pm BATS Theatre Register Here Les Femmes, New Zealand’s cabaret drag sensation is coming to DAFT! This trio of gals deliver slick vocals, tight choreography and bucket loads of belly laughs. Come behind the scenes and grab a taste of Drag prep and performance! DAFT 2022 are excited to be hosting the Les Femmes queens for an insightful performance preparation demonstration. Join us for a fascinating window into the complex 'getting ready' process the Les Femmes queens embark on each time they prepare for a performance. From makeup design and application, to body work, wigs, jewellery and costuming - watching the queens become 'Drop Dead Gorgeous' and performance ready is an education you won't want to miss out on! You will have lots of opportunity to ask questions and talk with Les Femmes about Drag performing. Silver Noodle Soup Drama Workshop Friday 23 September 10am - 1pm BATS Theatre Register Here Would you like to try out drama in a no-stress, friendly and inclusive environment or check out how our Silver Noodle Soup Film and Theatre Company approaches inclusive performing arts practice? At the workshop you will meet and spend time with disabled performing artists, play games, share ideas, devise and perform pieces with a disability-led film and theatre company! Silver Noodle Soup Company members alongside tutors Madeline McNamara and Haidee Clark will lead this fun session. SNS Company members are young performing artists, film and theatre makers with intellectual disabilities and/or who are neuro-diverse. Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend this workshop! MC Workshop Saturday 24 September 10am - 1pm BATS Theatre Register Here Join Creatif Kate for a beginner's guide to MCing as a person with disabilities. Learn about stage presence, crowd work, and setting the scene for shows of all kinds. Practise your skills with the class, gain confidence in front of an audience, learn how to manage your disabilities, and have fun!! Creatif Kate is well-known on the poetry, comedy, and cabaret circuits of Wellington. She's a poet, producer, performer, photographer, preacher – basically, if it starts with 'p' she's in. She has done MC work of various kinds for many years and lives with multiple chronic conditions, both physical and mental.

Detailed description of Te Auaha

< Back How Wellington's DAT Festival aims to be an arts show Kathryn Ryan 12 Nov 2024 Creatif Kate has done an interview with RNZ. What does it take to make an arts festival truly inclusive? Creatif Kate knows, she's is one half of the creative force behind Wellington's Disabled Artists' Theatre or DAT - Festival , along with Susan Williams. It's into its third year, helping to showcase hearing or vision impaired, neuro-divergent or disabled performing artists, writers and filmmakers. The festival is on now until November 17. It was born out of the cancellation of Disability Pride Week - and is getting bigger each year, despite the squeeze on arts budgets. Here's a link to the interview . www.rnz.co.nz How Wellington's DAT Festival aims to be an arts show What does it take to make an arts festival truly inclusive? Creatif Kate knows, she's is one half of the creative force behind Wellington's Disabled Artists' Theatre or DAT - Festival, along with Susan Williams. It's into its third year, helping to showcase hearing or vision impaired, neuro-divergent or disabled performing artists, writers and filmmakers. The festival is on now until November 17. It was born out of the cancellation of Disability Pride Week - and is getting bigger each year, despite the squeeze on arts budgets. Previous Next

< Back Open Legs Open Heart Book 15 Nov 2024 Buy Creatif Kate's new book Creatif Kate's new book, Open Legs Open Heart , is now available. You can purchase it on her website . Kate describes Open Legs Open Heart as " A collection of poetry, some very filthy indeed. 18+". The book costs $30 plus $7.95 postage within New Zealand and $15 international postage or free pickup. Previous Next

< Back Media Release 1 DAT Fest Creatif Kate 1 Jul 2024 DAT FEST 2024 Disabled Artists’ Theatre Festival 2024 DAT is a Disabled Artists’ Theatre Festival based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa (Wellington, New Zealand). DAT is lead and directed by disabled folks. We welcome the financial support and volunteership of our allies. New Look! New Name! New Diagnoses! DAT Fest 2024 coming in hot! The Team is assembled and ready to bring the most inclusive festival in Aotearoa, New Zealand. From humble beginnings in 2022, to a six week turn-around in 2023 to now a CreativeNZ funded fully staffed phenomenon of a festival. DAT Fest, co-directed by disabled royalty Creatif Kate (She/Her) and Susan Williams (They/Them), have assembled a fully D/deaf, disabled, and neurodiverse team of specialists to ensure inclusivity and accessibility are at the heart of everything they do and everything the festival is. DAT Fest is a two-week spectacular, designed to showcase and elevate the abundant talent in the DDN communities, and provide opportunities to practice, upskill, and connect. DAT Fest’s aim is to provide accessible opportunities for DDN performers and creatives to upskill, showcase work, and connect with peers; to provide accessible and welcoming public shows; to provide accessible and relevant workshops to DDN performers; to lead by example, and to centre intersectionality, inclusivity, with a human rights based approach (especially the UNConvention on the rights of people with disabilities, and #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs ) and upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi; to hold accessibility at the centre of what we do, and do our best for everyone involved with the festival; to respect each other’s, energy, abilities, individuality, and needs; to uplift each other and our communities; DAT Fest aims to be better each year than the year before, to take individual needs into account, and to seek and reflect community feedback. This is the first of our media releases. More will be sent out as we announce programming and scheduling. Susan and Kate are both available for Media interviews, please email: media.datfest@gmail.com to arrange. Welook forward to working with you. Previous Next

< Back Media Release 2 DAT Fest 2024 Creatif Kate 30 Aug 2024 Disabled Artists’ Theatre Festival 2024 For an easy read version of this release, please email media.datfest@gmail.com DAT Fest is a Disabled Artists’ Theatre Festival based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa (Wellington, New Zealand). DAT Fest is led and directed by disabled folks. We welcome the financial support and volunteership of our allies. Venue Confirmed! Dates Confirmed! DAT Fest 2024 is officially on the calendar! Our official venue is Te Auaha, 65 Dixon Street . Te Auaha is home to an incredible creative school that houses students studying Theatre, Film, Photography, and the arts and is now the home to DAT Fest 2024. Te Auaha have been super generous. Not only are they offering their 65-seater theatre Tapere Iti for shows and workshops, they’re also giving us their entire 4th floor to “take over” for the entirety of the Festival. This means we have multiple professional spaces for workshops, classes, rehearsals, and even the space to hang out and chill. Kate Spencer (Co-Director) has already earmarked a room for a low sensory quiet zone for those who need a safe space. We can’t thank Te Auaha enough. We can now make the festival bigger and better than we’d ever hoped! DAT Fest 2024 will launch on Saturday 2nd of November , with Orientations. Lunch and a Gala showcase, giving tasters and teasers from festival performers who shall set the tone for the rest of the fest! DAT Fest will have a full 2 - week programme ending on Sunday the 17th of November. An important detail for DAT Fest, spearheaded by Susan Williams (Co-Director), is making sure that every person possible can enjoy this festival. Arts Access Aotearoa has topped up the funding for DAT Fest so we can comfortably increase accessibility to Te Auaha. There are rarely any accessible parking spaces in the CBD. With Arts Access Aoteaora’s help, we are setting up multiple shuttle services from Te Papa and the Wellington Train Station in order to be able to accommodate and facilitate easier access to the festival. We want as many people as possible to attend without worrying about the cost of transport/parking/the stress of public transport. This is so important to the festival and is core to our Kaupapa of inclusion and access. Expressions of Interest opened earlier this month, responses have been flooding in, we will keep the form open till the end of August so everyone has had equal opportunity to access this festival in the way they wish. Whether its performance, volunteering, tech, behind the scenes, there are roles for everyone disabled and allies alike. EOI Form: https://forms.gle/PG8AFerNXfsL4Vp39 If you would like to contribute further to the work of DAT Fest and have the financial means, we welcome donations to the DAT Fest bank account: 02-1248-0617172-032 We acknowledge and are grateful to CNZ, Arts Access Aoteroa, and Te Auaha for their enormous support. DAT Fest 2024, 2nd–17th November, Te Auaha. Susan and Kate are both available for Media interviews, please email: media.datfest@gmail.com to arrange. We look forward to working with you. Previous Next

Donate DAT Fest appreciates any and all donations. The money you donate will go towards supporting DAT Fest artists. How To Donate You can donate to DAT Fest via an internet banking transfer or with cash to the koha boxes at events and workshops. Here are DAT Fest's details if you want to donate via internet banking: Bank account name: Creatif Kate Bank account number: 02-1248-0617172-032 Please use the reference "DAT Fest 2024" or the name of the workshop or event you want to support when you donate.

Resources and Access DAT Fest 2024 is hosted at Te Auaha in Wellington city centre. We are committed to accessibility. You can find information about venues and general accessibility on this page. You can also read DAT Fest's Kaupapa and Shared Expectations on a separate page. Contents Venues Accessibility Transport Kaupapa & Shared Expectations FAQ Venues Te Auaha Te Auaha is home to an incredible creative school that houses students studying Theatre, Film, Photography, and The Arts and is now the home to DAT Fest 2024. DAT Fest will be using Te Auaha's Tapere Iti theatre for shows and workshops. We will also be taking over the building's 4th floor for the festival. We will have multiple professional spaces for workshops, classes, rehearsals, and even the space to hang out and chill. For more information on Te Auaha's accessibility, please see their Parking & Accessibility page. Accessibility Here is some general accessibility information and information for specific needs. For venue info, please see the "Venues " section above. If you need other help, please email access.datfest@gmail.com . All Performances You are welcome to stim, wriggle, fidget, move around if you need. Please keep off stage if you can, but otherwise you are welcome to stand up and move about if you need. If you think you might want to stand up, we recommend that you grab a free-standing seat in the front row, which will make it easier for you. Let us know if you would like help and we can help find right seat for you. It should go without saying, but all Assistance Dogs are welcome!!! Support people are also welcome but please book a ticket for them so we have a chair available. You can use a ‘free’ option on the sliding scale when booking for your support person. Wellbeing Wingpeople are available to help you. They will be wearing beads to provide another sensory cue to identify them. Relaxed Performances We ask you to come in quietly and stay quiet in the foyer before and after, to provide a safe sensory experience for your fellow theatre goers. We also ask if you can please ‘click’ rather than clap, and, if there is audience interaction, please whisper rather than shout. If you would like to enter the auditorium early to get out of the crowd, please ask and we can let you in. Relaxed performances will have reduced volume/soft auditorium lighting. Stim toys will be available. Companions There is an option to book a companion ticket for free. Anyone who needs a companion is welcome to use this option, you don’t have to prove or explain why you need to bring a companion with you. If you need a free companion ticket, then please book one. Vision AD (Audio Description) is provided by our community Audio Describers, trained and advised by blind people. For shows the AD is delivered through radio transmitters which have a headphone jack. You can bring your own headphones, or use the single over-ear headphone provided. For workshops with AD, the community Audio Describer will sit with you and ensure you have access to visual information. Any event that does not have AD is expected to be accessible to blind and low vision audiences and participants without it. To book AD shows Book normally, there is no need to book a specific AD ticket. If there is no touch tour, please arrive 20 mins before the show starts for the intro and to get set up with AD equipment. If you need a companion, you can book their ticket at the same time, just select the free companion option for their ticket. Hearing Please check this website and Facebook for updates on NZSL. We have NZSL summaries of the festival and programme . Transport Accessible Shuttle Because there aren't many parks near Te Auaha, we will be running a free shuttle to and from the Railway Station, Te Papa carpark and certain locations in Wellington City and the Hutt. This shuttle is a 8 seat, 2 wheelchair, van with a hoist (link to description of the van ). The shuttle will drop you off 30 minutes before events and pick you up 15 minutes after events. We cannot guarantee shuttle rides beyond Wellington Central. We may be able to offer rides at the beginning and the end of the day to the Hutt, but this is not guaranteed. To book a space on this shuttle, please fill out the DAT Fest Shuttle Booking Form . Reimbursing Transport Costs If you need help getting to and from DAT Fest from other Wellington locations, we can pay your public transport, petrol and parking costs. Please contact access@datfest.gmail.com for help with getting your transport costs reimbursed.

Detailed description of BATS Welcome to Bats Theatre! This is an explanation of the various landmarks and areas within bats. The front doors The front entrance has stairs with rails on both sides. These are smooth and wooden up to a set of double doors. When you enter the double doors you arrive in the foyer of Bats, which is a hangout and bar area. On the left as you walk through the doors are a collection of round chairs and tables in a square area out to the left and on the right there is another section of window seats, armchairs and low tables. Both the left and right sections are shaped like a 3 sided rectangle. As you walk through the doors the final side of the rectangle on your right is the bar. You can reach it if you walk diagonally, on your 3’o clock from the door. This is a fairly high countertop bar and behind that should be a BATS staff around. Just beware there can be a bunch of glasses on the bar, so go gentle as you reach for it. The stairs and water station Now if you walk past both of the hangout areas, to your left is a staircase. It’s not a spiral staircase because the flight of steps are straight, but it’s like a spiral staircase with corners so you turn right a lot as you’re heading up and left a lot as you’re heading down. For the festival we don’t need to go upstairs unless you need the kitchen. On your right hand side as you come past the stairs there is a little hole in the wall that is a slot to get water to refill your drink bottles or fill a glass from the bar. Please don’t take any glassware into the theatre spaces. Box Office Opposite the bottom of the stairs, on your right as you walk from the doors, is the box office. Often in the middle of the space is one of those things with posts and a looping barrier like they have in banks, to make people line up for the box office. The box office counter is on your right. As you carry on along you will find the door to the office just past the box office on your right. Further on there will be a pair of double doors which may be closed or open, if they’re open, you will feel a door on the right hand side and a door on the left hand side - these might feel like they’re doors to other rooms but they are open double doors. If the doors are shut, push through the open doors and they will open away from you. Hallway before theatre This is when you will find the bathrooms. There is a sign on the wall saying you can use whatever bathroom you are comfortable with but they are still gendered. One the right hand side we have the bathroom that was/is the women's toilet and has sanitary bins in it, and on the left hand side is the accessible toilet and the bathroom with the urinals in it. As we carry on along, on the right hand side there is a bench against the wall next to the toilets, then we go through, the floor changes to a more echoey wood, and you go through the doors at the end of the space and that is the theatre space. Theatre Space As you come into the theatre space on each side there’s wooden walls, if you reach upwards you’ll discover that these start to give way to railings at first above your head and then beside you as you walk along, sort of sloping railings up above. The theatre space in front of you is a great big rectangle, when you enter you are coming down the middle of the seating block essentially. Once you’ve come through the seating block, to your left on the wall is the fire door, and at your left and right are the seats at the front row. In front of you is a big open stage space with three doors along the back wall and one door up high along the back wall with no way to get up to it except behind the stage. If you’ve walked down the corridor between the seating blocks, and take a few steps out and turn around, you’ll see the seating blocks rising up on either side of the corridor you just walked down. Those are the main features of getting through to the theatre. Other floors If instead you’ve walked up the staircase in the foyer, you’ve found the other floors of BATS. If you go all the way up, you’ll turn right, until the first time you can turn left, you’ll know that you reached the next level up. If you were to go up to your left there’s some more stairs and the dome space, and then if you turn right at the top of that flight of stairs you’ll find there’s more toilets. If instead you turned away from the dome, you’ll find a railing across a couple of items blocking the way and on the left there’s a table and some chairs to sit at and the BATS' kitchen, on the left in the middle of that wall just after the chairs and tables. So if you’ve climbed the stairs and turned right, the kitchen is on your left. The Kitchen The microwave is very temperamental, sometimes you have to turn it off at the wall and on again. Within the kitchen, the microwave is up high and to the left, the sink is in front of you on the opposite wall, and the rubbish and recycle bins are to your right. The green room space which may or may not be available is a door on the right hand side of the kitchen if you’re standing in the door way. Accessible Entrance The accessible entrance, instead of going up the flight of stairs at the front, move to the left of the building i.e. with the building on your right side, until you reach the far wall and turn right down the side of the building. This takes you down an alley between BATS and the fire station. Down this alley to the left of the theatre, there is a door on the right, this will take you through the fire door, into the theatre. e microwave is up high and to the left, the sink is in front of you on the opposite wall, and the rubbish and recycle bins are to your right. The green room space which may or may not be available is a door on the right hand side of the kitchen if you’re standing in the door way.