Relaxed Sessions: Storytelling with Hannah Lee
Join a gentle storytelling session with writer Hannah Lee and illustrator Allen Fatimaharan to celebrate every voice and imagination.
Relaxed Sessions are the perfect place to start the weekend, specially designed for children and families who would benefit from a sensory adapted space and a smaller group experience.
This month writer Hannah Lee and illustrator Allen Fatimaharan bring imaginative storytelling and live illustration to The Clore Ballroom, inviting us to create new stories and learn the art of illustration collectively.
Hannah Lee is an award-winning author from London. Her debut picture book My Hair is a celebration of Black hair, and her follow up The Rapping Princess is a fairytale about finding your voice.
Allen Fatimaharan is an award winning illustrator and animator based in Oxfordshire who has illustrated over twenty books since 2019. He was the World Book Day illustrator for 2022 and 2023.
Relaxed Sessions are our adapted version for children and families who would benefit from a sensory adapted space and a smaller group. See all access changes in the access section below.
Need to know
Free tickets are available to book from eight days before the event.
Relaxed Sessions are the adapted version of Saturday Sessions: if you or your child have SEND or other needs and would benefit from a smaller group and an adapted space, please book a free ticket. See all access changes in the access section.
The performance and workshop is repeated in the afternoon’s Saturday Sessions, without the adaptations of Relaxed Sessions and with no need to book a ticket.
Access
There is a ‘what to expect’ guide available for audience members who may benefit from preparing for Relaxed Sessions.
View guide for Relaxed Sessions
There is also a specific ‘what to expect’ guide for this session.
View guide for this session
This session has a relaxed approach to noise and movement, a reduced capacity, sensory adaptations and a nearby rest space available to use for the duration of the session whenever needed.
Relaxed Sessions and Saturday Sessions take a relaxed approach to noise or movement coming from the audience. They give everyone permission to relax and respond naturally and people are free to come and go as they please.
The following changes are in place for Relaxed Sessions:
- Smaller group: these sessions have a reduced number of spaces, and only people with tickets can attend
- Fixed lighting state with no sudden changes
- Moderate sound levels and no extreme or sudden changes in noise
- Curtains partly drawn to reduce distractions and noise
- Chairs, benches, bean bags and floor space to get comfortable on
- A team member present who specialises in play for children with SEND
- A rest space available nearby available from 10.30am – 3.30pm
- Noise-cancelling headphones on request
- A slow start and slow finish to the session: you may relax in the space for 15 minutes after the workshop ends
You can join our free Access Scheme through your online Southbank Centre account or via email.
Find out more about our Access Scheme
All our access information
For your visit
This event is held at the The Clore Ballroom Southbank Centre
The Clore Ballroom is open six days a week.
Tuesday, 10am – 6pm*
Wednesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.
*If we’re hosting a performance, the building will stay open until the event ends.
Plan your visit
The Clore Ballroom is located inside our Royal Festival Hall on Level 2.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
There is step-free access to The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall, via a ramp.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
Next to The Clore Ballroom is our Ballroom Cafe where you can grab a coffee and a piece of freshly made cake. Also on Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.