Planning your visit

Our aim is to make the theatre accessible to all members of the community. We are a community theatre run by volunteers and are unable to offer all the facilities that we would like, but we hope that the following points help you to prepare for your visit.

Theatre Front of House staff will always endeavour to help you in any way they can. Please ask for anything you need and they will do their very best to assist you, such as:

• Booking taxis or assisting you into a taxi.
• Showing you to your seats or facilities.
• Storing equipment and make sure it is available when you need it.

If you have a special seating or access requirement not covered below, please contact Bob Yelland on 01420 85067 or via eMail. We will endeavour to provide you with a seat suitable to your needs. We always welcome comments and suggestions for further improvement.

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of the building. Please book an aisle seat so that your dog can sit alongside. There is no need to inform us in advance.

Wheelchair Users

The auditorium permits easy access for wheelchair users, with no ramps or stairs. We can accommodate up to six wheelchair users per performance, each with a companion seat directly alongside or immediately behind. Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs may require the allocation of two standard size wheelchair spaces. These spaces are subject to availability so please book early.

We are happy to offer one free ticket for the companion of a disabled person who is not able to attend the event unaccompanied. Anyone designated as a carer must be able physically to assist the patron for whom they are caring to leave the building in an emergency.

We understand that some of our patrons are more comfortable transferring from their wheelchair to a theatre seat to watch the performance. Please inform our front of house staff on arrival and we will be happy to store the wheelchair whilst you watch the performance.

We regret that wheelchair spaces and companion seats cannot be purchased online. Please contact Bob Yelland by phone on 01420 85067 to discuss your requirements. You can also contact us by email.

We recommend wheelchair users arrive 30 minutes before show starts.

Hearing Impaired

We do not have an induction loop system in the auditorium. This is something we are considering for the future. If you would benefit from this facility, please tell us.

Parking

There are about thirty parking spaces on the theatre site and further parking on London Road outside the main gates. We are happy to reserve car parking spaces for visitors with mobility issues, if you inform us in advance.

Babes in Arms

Children aged two and under are welcome to share a seat with you free of charge.

Baby changing facilities

Are available in the accessible toilet in the foyer.

Booster Seats

We do not offer booster seats for children, but you are welcome to bring along a cushion from home.

Toilets

The theatre has ladies’, gents’ and accessible toilets in the foyer. The accessible toilets have a hydraulic bed and baby change facilities.

Mobile Phones

For the enjoyment of all customers, the use of mobile phones is strictly prohibited during performances. We ask that they are switched off or set to ‘airplane’ mode for the duration of the performance. Mobile phones can interfere with our sound system.

What is a Relaxed Performance?

A relaxed performance is a special show from our programme, with slight adaptations to make it suitable for an audience of young people, and adults with neurodivergence such as autism, learning disabilities and other sensory or communication needs. Relaxed Environment performances are open to all but are particularly suitable for anyone who benefits from being able to make a noise, leave and return to their seat, or access the toilets during the performance.

What changes are made to a Relaxed Performance?

We make slight changes to the sound, lowering the volume and reducing any loud effects.

We slow down any flashing/strobe lighting effects and there will be no lighting blackouts, sudden explosions, sudden crashes or loud bangs.

Elements of surprise will be reduced to a minimum.

The auditorium lights will always be on at a low level to allow you to see and move around more easily. We encourage noise and movement to allow people to enjoy the show in their own way!

We reduce the capacity so there’s more spaces around each group’s booking.

Attendees are welcome to walk in and out of the auditorium as they please. For anyone who needs to leave the show you are welcome to sit in the foyer and watch the show on the TV screen. You can return to the show when you are ready. It is fine if you need to leave and return several times.

Most importantly we ask everyone to be tolerant and accepting of the fact that some people may express enjoyment of the show in different ways; the attitude to noise, singing along to the show, and movement is relaxed, we ask anyone in our audience to be supportive of this.

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