ACCESSIBILITY INFO

  • Everyone has access needs, whether they identify as having a disability or not. TBF is committed to inclusion and equity. 

    At TBF, we understand that inaccessibility often works in a cycle that perpetuates the exclusion of disabled performers, audiences, and creatives. Many events are set up so that disabled people cannot participate. As a result, disabled people cannot attend these events, which creates a lack of visibility and presence of the disabled community. Consequently, disability is regarded as a rarity because of this absence and remains unconsidered in future event planning. TBF aims to curate events that break this cycle whenever possible. 

    Performers will be asked for any anticipated access needs in their tech forms ahead of shows. Crew members will be asked of their access needs in their call sheets. We will also include a space in ticket buying for audience members to identify any access needs they may have.

    We will do everything in our ability to ensure the access needs of performers, staff, and audience members are met. When we cannot meet a community member’s access needs, we aim to offer suitable accommodations. 

    Producers will also check in with performers on show days to see if their access needs are being met. Designated TBF representatives will also be available to help with anything that comes up, should a producer be unavailable.

    We are committed to hiring accessibility consultants to work with us to ensure every aspect of the festival is as accessible as possible for the greatest number of community members.

    We are also committed to the hiring of disabled performers and showcasing their work. There will be a space on performance applications for performers to identify as being a member of an equity-seeking group, including disabled or chronically ill. 


  • Our exclusive venue for TBF 2025 is Buddies in Bad Times Theatre at 12 Alexander St., Toronto.

    They have a complete venue accessibility guide available here.

    Accessibility can be lots of different things and we aim to be as accessible as possible to both festival goers and performers.

    Buddies in Bad Times is physically accessible for both performers and audience members. The entrance of the building has a ramp used by all patrons.

    Washrooms are on the lower level and can be accessed by lift. The lift requires an attendant due to the manual door function and the need for a key to use.

    Buddies’ washroom facilities are not designated by gender. The main washroom area is equipped with ten private stalls (including two barrier-free stalls) and a communal sinks. Some stalls are equipped with bars and provide extra space, and they also have a single-user, universal washroom.

    The festival will provide a mix of standing room and ticketed floor seating    . If you require reserved seating or require any other accessibility-related accommodations, please email us. 

    The ventilation system at Buddies is designed to accommodate large capacities in the Chamber & Cabaret by having two large CO2 exhausters in the ceilings that exhaust extra air out when the crowds increase.

    The 3 HVAC systems (Chamber, Cabaret, & Basement) provide 10 Air Changes an hour ( i.e. indoor air sucked out & mixed with 20% of outdoor air then blown back into the building), and have HEPA filters installed in the fresh air intakes.

    All events have additional HEPA filtration during TBF and free N95 masks are available at the door. 

    Live streaming tickets are available for all festival shows this year.

    We are also pleased to offer ASL interpretation services at our Thursday, November 13, and Friday, November 14 shows.

  • Further Accessibility-related commitments include: 

    • Producing shows in venues that are physically accessible for both audience and performers

    • Hiring ASL interpreters and audio descriptors for shows and educational events 

    • Having ticketed video live streaming available for shows and educational events 

    • Event spaces having high-grade air filtration systems and HEPA filtration in backstage spaces 

    • Making free N95 to all performers, staff, crew, and patrons 

    • Ensuring COVID-19 rapid testing of all performers, staff, and crew

    • Posting access information on all shows social media and ticketing sites about the physical specifications of the show space including any barriers

    • Designating priority seating for those who need it

    • Ensuring all bathrooms are gender-neutral and/or single-stall washrooms are available

    • Declaring shows as scent-free zones 

    • Including a list of some possible accessibility provisions/asks on all TBF related documents (so performers don’t have to ask) 

    • Whenever possible, having food and drinks available in green rooms which meet numerous dietary restrictions (e.g. free of most common allergens, gluten-free options, veg options, Halal, Kosher/Pareve, etc.) 

    • Minimizing or eliminating the use of strobe lights/strobe effects in shows 

    • Having backstage staff trained in first aid and administering of Naloxone

    • Whenever possible, providing designated outdoor areas for use of prescribed medical cannabis 

    • Including content and trigger warnings in show programs and before acts that include common trauma triggers

  • Please email us if you require reserved seating or other accessibility-related accommodations.