Better access to live performances after summer renos at Moncton's Capitol Theatre

At Moncton's Capitol Theatre, Christine Francoeur and Natalie Fougère are familiar faces. The friends attend about 10 shows together every year.

Francoeur said the renovations underway at the theatre this summer will not only make the space more comfortable for her and Fougère, they will also allow her partner, who uses a wheelchair, to attend more shows with them.

The upgrades will include a new elevated row of 10 accessible seats for people who use wheelchairs or bariatric chairs, which are seats with a wider base and no arm rests. Previously, there were only four accessible seats.

Fougère was born with an optic nerve condition that reduces her vision to minimal shadow and light perception. She said having the opportunity to attend shows and to sit in the front row makes her feel included.

"It's like I get into a universe," she said. "It's all an experience where even if I'm not able to see what's going on in the show … I can focus on what I hear and what I feel inside of me."

Francoeur also lives with reduced vision and mobility challenges. The friends are excited that the Capitol's accessibility upgrades will open live performances to more people in the community.

Kim Rayworth shares that excitement. As managing director of the Capitol, she credits an audit by Ability New Brunswick with identifying areas for improvement.

She said the theatre already offers audio enhancement devices and welcomes service animals but has heard from audience members that the historic building still presents limitations.

"I think that people want to be a part of an organization and a place where they see every different person in the community having a right and having the opportunity to attend and enjoy a performance."

The audit report also recommended adding an accessible washroom on the second floor, clearer signage and an automatic backstage door — all of which the theatre is addressing.

"Ensuring that we're doing all that we can to be more accessible is definitely front of mind for us, and the report really helps us to see where there are improvements that can be made," said Rayworth.

Since Ability N.B. began offering audits through its Accessible N.B. program in 2021, executive director Haley Flaro said demand has grown. 

"Accessibility is good for business," she said. "If you're opening a space or a business without thinking about that population, you're losing money."

New Brunswick had the country's highest increase in disability rates from 2017 to 2022, according to a Statistics Canada report.