Accessible Event Notice
Introduction
There’s a diverse range of programming to suit all tastes and we aim to make each event as accessible as possible. Companion cards are accepted and Auslan interpreters can be organised by request if they are not already planned for the event.
The full program is available via the website at armadaleartsfestival.com.au. Events can also be searched by Accessible Venue on the website.
For more information about venues or accessibility enquiries, please contact Kylie from the Arts & Events Team on 9394 5652 or [email protected].
Additionally, some programs are listed below that have a particular focus on accessibility.
[Image description: Two patrons with their back to the camera are viewing artwork at the 2023 Armadale Arts Festival Extensions Exhibition. One of the event patrons is using a walking frame.]
Headliners Comedy Gala
When: 3 May 2025, 7.30 – 9.30pm
Where: Armadale District Hall
Cost: $15 Concession, $20 Adult, Free – Companion Cardholders
To book: events.humanitix.com/headliners-comedy-gala-ph5ec2ks
Accessibility notes: Auslan interpreter will be present. Questions about mobility will be asked during the booking process. Presented in an accessible venue.
The hills are alive with the sound of laughter! That’s right, the very best stand-up comedians are headed to the hills to perform at the Armadale Arts Festival as part of the Headliners Comedy Gala. No need to travel all the way into the city for your live comedy fix. They’re bringing the laughs directly to you!
The show format is very simple, a hilarious comedy host and four professional comedians – Janelle Koenig, Mickey J, Xavier Michelides and Sean Conway – doing their very best material.
“The audience were consistently laughing and clearly enjoying themselves throughout all of the comedians’ sets as the room never lulled into uncomfortable silence.”
“‘HEADLINERS COMEDY GALA’ is the perfect event if you love a casual comical night out!” – Fringefeed 2025.
The last Headliners Comedy Gala sold out, so we recommend you get in early to avoid missing out on a hill-arious night in Armadale.
There will be only one show, doors open at 7.00pm and the show will start at 7.30pm. Please do not bring any outside food or beverages other than water, limited drink options will be available for purchase.
This is an 18+ event containing coarse language and adult themes. Seating will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please make note of accessibility needs when booking.
Positive Ageing High Teas
When: Monday 5 May to Thursday 8 May 2025, 10am – 12 noon each day
Where: Armadale District Hall
Cost: Free
To book: events.humanitix.com/positive-ageing-high-teas-rx8n4pkb
Accessibility notes: Presented in an accessible venue.
Fancy a bit of extravagance in your day? Enjoy a little indulgence at one of the Positive Ageing High Tea events being held at the historic Armadale District Hall. Delight in being served a morning tea of delicious treats by Bedfordale Country Women’s Association and local hospitality students from the following high schools.
- Monday 5 May – Kelmscott Senior High School
- Tuesday 6 May – St John Bosco College
- Wednesday 7 May – John Wollaston Anglican Community College
- Thursday 8 May – Armadale Senior High School
After morning tea, guests will be invited to explore the thought-provoking works of the Minnawarra Art Awards (MAA). As one of the City’s premium events, the renowned MAA presents a beautifully curated exhibition showcasing a variety of mediums from some of Western Australia’s most prestigious artists.
This is a free event, but places are limited. Book now to avoid disappointment.
[Image description: An elderly lady is seated at a high tea setting at the Positive Ageing High Tea. She is seated in a wheelchair.]
Minnawarra Art Awards Tactile Tours
When: Available by appointment
Where: Armadale District Hall
Cost: Free
To book: Email [email protected] or call Kylie on 9394 5652
As one of the City’s premium events, the renowned Minnawarra Art Awards showcases some of Western Australia’s most prestigious artists. The Awards include a beautifully curated exhibition presenting a variety of mediums.
Tactile tours are offered on request to facilitate enjoyment of the artworks through dialogue and touch. These tours have been created to introduce people with disability and/or vision impairment to the Minnawarra Art Awards and maximise inclusion so everyone can experience this exhibition in meaningful and engaging ways.
[Image description: Three ladies are at the Minnawarra Art Awards looking at a textile sculptural artwork located in between them on a plinth. The lady on the right is talking about the artwork and the lady in the middle is interpreting using Auslan.]
Communication Through Touch and Music
When: Friday 9 May and Friday 16 May 2025, 11.00pm – 11.30pm and 1.30pm – 3.00pm
Where: Armadale District Hall
Cost: Free
To book: forms.office.com/r/a0qWNPvJmJ
Accessibility notes: Run by an experienced special education educator and leader. Presented in an accessible venue.
Does your child have sensory processing difficulties and limited verbal skills? Are they anxious when they don’t know what’s coming next, or do they have tactile defensiveness? Do they get frustrated and dysregulated?
At last, we have access to the TACPAC resource, which helps with sensory communication for pupils who have limited verbal skills and sensory processing difficulties.
TACPAC works in a one-to-one partnership, using the sense of touch through hands and objects with various textures. It also uses specially composed music that matches the touch. Because the match is exact, our pupils do not have to decide which language to follow. There is one sensory message, which our pupils can instinctively understand and respond to. This is called “Sensory Alignment” and enables the brain to regulate responses to sensory input effectively. Most notably, it improves the relationship between the TACPAC partners. It works!
Using TACPAC over time enables your child to develop trust with you as their communication partner. They can then begin to express themselves by showing what they feel or what they want.
We are offering parents and carers the same training that is available to teachers. If you have NDIS, you can use it to participate in our online training. Please inform your schools and teachers if you are using TACPAC at home, as they can follow up in class and with speech therapists at school. Many schools are aware of this resource and the training we offer.
To find out more, please visit tacpacsensory.au/tacpac-for-parents.
[Image description: A young man is on the left; a lady is on the right. The lady is leaning in to touch the side of his face with a little mop.]
The Little Hoo Haa!
When: Saturday 10 May 2025, 6.00pm – 7.00pm
Where: Armadale District Hall
Cost: $5 Children, $10 Adult, Free – Companion Cardholders
To book: events.humanitix.com/the-little-hoo-haa
Accessibility notes: Auslan interpreter will be present. Questions about mobility will be asked during the booking process. Presented in an accessible venue.
Interactive, engaging and hilarious, The Little HOO-HAA! is big laughs for little people! See improvised comedy at its finest and funniest as we use audience suggestions to create spontaneous stories, sketches and silliness.
Two teams of comedians go head-to-head in a battle of wits and comedy. Songs, sketches and slapstick are all part of the fun as we think quickly, and you laugh hard. Mums and Dads will enjoy it just as much as kids!
“It’s a crazier version of The Wiggles, but you know, actually funny” – The Fourth Wall 2020
WINNER 2020 Variety Line-Up Show, FRINGE WORLD
Doors open at 5.45pm and the show will start at 6.00pm. Please do not bring any outside food or beverages other than water.
The Big Hoo Haa!
When: Saturday 10 May 2025, 8.00pm – 9.00pm
Where: Armadale District Hall
Cost: $15 Concession, $20 Adult, Free – Companion Cardholders
To book: events.humanitix.com/the-big-hoo-haa
Accessibility notes: Auslan interpreter will be present. Questions about mobility will be asked during the booking process. Presented in an accessible venue.
The Big HOO-HAA! will have you laughing out loud from start to finish. Two teams of fearless comedians take the stage to do battle in a competition of jokes, sketches and songs in an effort to win your laughs, applause, and the coveted HOO-HAA! Trophy. Improvised comedy at its finest and funniest, created on the spot from audience suggestions.
Each show’s line-up is different but it’s always hilarious, exciting and original!
This show is suitable for ages 15+, event contains course language and adult themes. Adult supervision recommended.
Doors open at 7.30pm and the show will start at 8.00pm. Please do not bring any outside food or beverages other than water. An Auslan interpreter will be present.
[Image description: There are five actors in the image, four of them are standing at the back watching one in front preforming improvised theatre with a pen and folder.]
Sensorium Theatre: Wombat Stew
When: Tuesday 13 May to Thursday 15 May 2025, 9.30am, 11.00am and 1.30pm sessions
Where: Armadale District Hall
To book: Unfortunately, this event has sold out
Accessibility notes: This show is for patrons with immersive, multi-sensory theatre specifically for young audiences with disability. Presented in an accessible venue.
Sensorium Theatre is Australia’s only company making immersive, multi-sensory theatre specifically for young audiences with disability. Their aim is to improve the lives of children with disability by sparking their imaginations.
Wombat Stew, the much-loved picture book by Marcia K. Vaughan, is 41 years old! Come and celebrate with Sensorium Theatre as they protect wombat from the dastardly dingo and cook up a storm of ‘gooey, brewy, yummy, chewy wombat stew’.
Armadale District Hall Venue Guide
Many of our Armadale Arts Festival events take place at the Armadale District Hall. Please note the following:
- There are two ACROD parking bays within the hall car park. Additional accessible parking, including bus bays, can be reserved upon request. Street parking (parallel to the road) is also available
- The Armadale District Hall is fully wheelchair accessible into and inside the building
- It is 25m of flat, paved surface from the accessible parking bays to the entrance of the hall. From the door, there is a further 14m to the entrance of the main hall or 28m to the entrance of the Kim Fletcher Gallery
- For large shows in the main hall, there is tiered seating with stairs (that do not have a railing) and seating at ground level available. Seating at ground level can be moved to accommodate persons using a wheelchair or other mobility device
- Strong smells: during the Arts Festival, tea and coffee is often served in the lobby
- Crowded spaces: The Lesser Hall (the room behind the foyer) may become a crowded space during intermission or before/after shows. There is another entry/exit into the main hall via the Foyer which may be less crowded during these times
- Loud area: sound echoes in the lobby area due to glass walls and tile floors. When crowded this may be an area to avoid for those with auditory processing sensitivities. The Lesser Hall and Kim Fletcher Gallery are both carpeted and may be better alternative spaces
- A virtual tour of the Armadale District Hall can be found here: creative.aero/blog/art-exhibition with to scale floorplan and walk through options
- A virtual tour of Outside the Frame in the Kim Fletcher Gallery can be found on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/watch?v=RkoAbTnDgpw
- Please note for both virtual tours that gallery layout may change year-to-year
- Floor plan: (Note the Kim Fletcher Gallery is labelled here as the Multi Purpose Room).
