AndAlso Accessibility, Equality and Inclusion

Our teachers aim to create supportive learning environments by:

• Explaining activities and expectations clearly
• Offering verbal clarification or demonstration where helpful
• Making space for different communication, processing and participation styles
• Adapting movement-based exercises wherever reasonably possible
• Allowing participants to sit, stand, move, take breaks or step out when needed
• Avoiding assumptions about people’s identities, relationships, bodies, abilities or lived experiences
• Using people’s stated names and pronouns
• Not requiring participants to disclose or perform aspects of their identity or personal experience
• Encouraging collaboration without treating confidence, speed, eye contact, physicality or loudness as measures of talent
• Offering constructive feedback that supports each learner’s development
• Responding when material becomes discriminatory, demeaning or harmful

Students may pass, pause or step out of an individual exercise when needed.

Where someone regularly needs to sit out substantial parts of a course, we encourage them to speak to their teacher so that we can discuss suitable adjustments and ensure that the course continues to meet their learning needs.

Some courses and performances have attendance or participation requirements. Where these may present a barrier because of disability, chronic illness or another access need, please contact us so that we can discuss the available options.

Some improv exercises may involve physical movement, proximity or contact. Teachers should explain this before an activity begins and provide an alternative wherever reasonably possible.

Consent is active and ongoing. Taking part in one exercise does not imply consent to physical contact in another, and anyone may change their mind or set a boundary at any time.

Students and performers should not deliberately use another person’s body, identity, access need or personal experience as the subject of a joke without their consent.

Where a scene or exercise involves intimacy, attraction or relationships, participants retain the right to set boundaries or step out.

We welcome disabled people and people living with chronic illness, long-term health conditions, pain, fatigue or mental health conditions.

Adjustments will depend on the individual, the activity and the venue, but may include:

• Adapting the movement or format of an exercise
• Participating while seated
• Taking additional breaks
• Stepping out and returning to the session
• Access to a chair during standing activities
• Receiving information in advance
• Using a quiet or lower-stimulation space where one is available
• Agreeing an appropriate way to communicate with the teacher
• Bringing necessary mobility, sensory or medical equipment
• Attending with an assistance dog or support person, subject to venue arrangements

We understand that chronic and fluctuating conditions may affect people differently from one session to another. We will not assume that someone’s access needs are fixed or always visible.

Please contact us before booking if you would like to discuss whether a particular course, workshop, performance or venue will be suitable for you.

We welcome neurodivergent participants, including autistic people and people with ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, Tourette’s and other forms of neurodivergence.

Members of our team have undertaken neurodiversity training, and we are continuing to develop our practice.

Depending on the class and venue, adjustments may include:

• Clear verbal instructions and demonstrations
• Extra processing time
• Advance information about the session or venue
• Permission to move, stim or use sensory aids
• Taking breaks without needing to explain why
• Adapting activities involving eye contact
• Reducing or warning participants about sudden lighting or sound changes where possible
• Providing written or digital information on request
• Identifying a quieter space where one is available

Improv classes can sometimes be noisy, energetic and unpredictable. Lighting, sound levels and access to quieter spaces vary between venues.

We will provide as much information as we can and encourage you to contact us before booking if sensory conditions may affect your participation.

AndAlso welcomes people of all genders and sexual orientations.

We expect teachers, performers, students and audience members to respect people’s names, pronouns, identities and relationships. Homophobic, biphobic, transphobic or other discriminatory behaviour is not acceptable.

Improv can invite people to play characters with experiences different from their own. We encourage this to be done with curiosity and care, without relying on stereotypes or turning marginalised identities into punchlines.

Improv benefits from a wide range of life experiences. There is no upper age limit for our adult programme, and participants should not be stereotyped, excluded or underestimated because of age.

Most AndAlso courses are for adults aged 18 and over.

Where we offer activities for children or teenagers, these are clearly identified and delivered with appropriate safeguarding arrangements.

We welcome disabled people and people with a range of access needs. AndAlso operates across several partner venues in Brighton and Hove. Access arrangements, including step-free access, lifts, toilets, seating, lighting and sound, vary between locations.

Most of our regular courses take place at BHASVIC, which has lift access, accessible classrooms and accessible facilities.

Other regular venues include:

• Werks, used for shows
• The Actors, used for jams
• The Lantern Theatre, used for student showcases
• Open Space Studios, used for musical improv drop-ins

Venues and activities may change, so we aim to include relevant access information on individual course and event pages.

You can also contact us before booking to ask about:

• Step-free or lift access
• Stairs
• Accessible toilets
• Classroom and performance-space access
• Seating
• Parking and drop-off points
• Public transport
• Lighting and sound
• Quiet or rest spaces
• Assistance dogs
• Any other physical or sensory access requirements

Where a venue presents an access barrier, we will be honest about the limitation and, where possible, help identify an alternative course, event or way to participate.

We aim to communicate in a clear and straightforward way.

Written materials may be made available digitally or in larger print on request. If you require another communication adjustment, please contact us, and we will explore what is reasonably possible.

British Sign Language interpretation, live captioning and other specialist support may require advance notice, external providers and additional funding.

We cannot guarantee that these will be available for every event, but we will discuss the available options honestly and investigate external access funding where appropriate.

We recognise that a conventional weekly, in-person course will not suit everyone.

Depending on our current programme, alternative ways to participate may include:

• Online classes
• One-off workshops and drop-ins
• Show Up & Play, our lower-pressure and flexible course
• Different class days, times or venues
• Private one-to-one tuition
• Bespoke workshops for organisations and community groups

Availability varies throughout the year. Please contact us if you would like help identifying the most suitable option.

We do not want cost to prevent people from participating in improv.

We offer:

• Concessionary prices
• Scholarship places
• Payment plans on our courses

Our concessions and scholarships are offered on a trust basis and do not require applicants to provide financial evidence.

Availability and eligibility may vary for guest workshops, retreats, intensives and other events with significant external costs. Any exceptions will be explained on the relevant booking page.