ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the concept of a relaxed performance in two different cultural organisations: Battersea Arts Centre and the English National Opera (ENO). It looks at how these organisations have taken two different approaches. Battersea Arts has been guided by Jess Thom of Touretteshero on their journey towards becoming a relaxed venue, and the ENO are at a point of strategic change and have adopted an ambitious five-year strategy placing relaxed performances centrally within this. The chapter contains an interview with Jess to understand the approach and her personal politics within this space and an interview with Amy and Beth from the ENO. The relaxed approach needs to go across every part of the programming, and also every level of the organisation. The influence of inclusion on leadership and decision making is at board level and is structural to the ENO.
