The etiquette surrounding audience behaviour at concerts and live performances means people with disabilities often feel excluded. But many arts organisations are now offering a range of accessible options from tactile tours to Auslan-interpreted and relaxed performances. Patricia Maunder looks at what is available.

A relaxed performance by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Photo © Samantha Meuleman

In Shakespeare’s day, audiences came and went during plays, cheered and booed enthusiastically, and even threw food at the actors. Behaviour was somewhat more seemly in Mozart’s time, though patrons chatted, played cards and popped between private boxes if the music didn’t enthral them. When it did, they applauded and stamped their feet not only between movements but during them too. 

Nowadays, at what has come to be considered ‘high’ cultural performances, we...