Promoting "accessible" Shakespeare has come not only to signal resources to address patrons with disabilities, but also to describe a range of theatrical initiatives and behaviors like lower-cost ticketing programs, altered or updated language, youth programming, socio-politically informed production design, bathroom availability, and other institutional projects. This talk investigates how "access" operates within theatre institutions to obscure the very barriers it would seem to address. By looking at theatres who seek engagement by encouraging audiences to locate transgender themes and identities in Shakespeare's cross-dressing plays, we can see the tension between the theatre's aspirations of access and their resistance to actual connection with these underserved communities.
