Fat Pigheaded
so i *was* going to see "Fat Pig" w/ H this week, but it turns out the theatre isn't accessible. i wrote a curt little note to A.C.T. Ottawa pointing out their hypocrisy:
When I read about the local production of "Fat Pig" in the Ottawa City Journal, I was looking forward to attending the show with a friend of mine, who herself has experienced the effects of size-ist attitudes in our society. However, unfortunately, neither of us will be able to attend the show as I use a wheelchair. After much difficulty in obtaining information on the wheelchair accessibility of the event (neither the Breathing Time Productions nor the University of Ottawa websites indicates the venue accessibility), it was finally confirmed by Studio Leonard-Beaulne staff that the venue is in fact not wheelchair accessible. Ironic that a production about exclusionary attitudes is itself held in an exclusionary space. Perhaps this was an intentional part of the show in an attempt to illustrate "the unfortunate realities of not fitting the status quo" (quote from the Breathing Time Productions website). I would prefer to believe this was not the actual intention. However, at the very least, I would assume that independent theatre would welcome any and all ticket sales. You may want to consider making future showings in wheelchair-accessible venues, particularly those productions dealing with society's tendency to shun certain individuals based on physical characteristics.
i'll be really surprised to hear back from them, but at least i gave them a piece of my mind. perhaps i'll at least get a canned response about how art doesn't have to be socially-responsible or something.
When I read about the local production of "Fat Pig" in the Ottawa City Journal, I was looking forward to attending the show with a friend of mine, who herself has experienced the effects of size-ist attitudes in our society. However, unfortunately, neither of us will be able to attend the show as I use a wheelchair. After much difficulty in obtaining information on the wheelchair accessibility of the event (neither the Breathing Time Productions nor the University of Ottawa websites indicates the venue accessibility), it was finally confirmed by Studio Leonard-Beaulne staff that the venue is in fact not wheelchair accessible. Ironic that a production about exclusionary attitudes is itself held in an exclusionary space. Perhaps this was an intentional part of the show in an attempt to illustrate "the unfortunate realities of not fitting the status quo" (quote from the Breathing Time Productions website). I would prefer to believe this was not the actual intention. However, at the very least, I would assume that independent theatre would welcome any and all ticket sales. You may want to consider making future showings in wheelchair-accessible venues, particularly those productions dealing with society's tendency to shun certain individuals based on physical characteristics.
i'll be really surprised to hear back from them, but at least i gave them a piece of my mind. perhaps i'll at least get a canned response about how art doesn't have to be socially-responsible or something.