Assembly Festival at The Box

jld

24 Aug 2018

Fringe show

3

3

Date of visit: August 2018

I have experience of challenges around: moving around

Overall Rating

Average

The venue is small and difficult to negotiate but it is accessible to powerwheelchair users and those with mobility issues. Staff were helpful and friendly.

Disabled Access In and Around

Average

The Box is a temporary venue for the Fringe which means it's access is basic. To get to The Box you have to navigate around George Square over some areas of cobbles. There are no seats outside. There is a ramp to the door which is steeper than the usual required gradient. The door is wide enough to fit a powerchair through but is at an angle that makes it difficult to turn into the space. Once inside there are spaces available for wheelchair users. Then steps up to 3 rows of raked seating. I was with another wheelchair user and we wanted to sit next to each other. I told the box office this. This information was not passed on. However, the staff moved seating so we could sit together. I could see no induction loops. The performance I was at did not have BSL but did do some shows with it. There were no captions available. Some of the show was projected.

Parking & Transport

Poor

There are disabled spaces surrounding George Square but these are for permit holders at the University of Edinburgh. There is a risk of a ticket if you do not have a permit as well as a blue badge. There are many bus routes around the area, 7, 14, 35, 300, 31, 23. These have lowered buses and ramps for wheelchair users. For those who self propel or have difficulties walking it is a fair distance from most bus stops to the venue over uneven ground and cobbles. The nearest train station is Waverley.

Accessible Toilets

Bad

There was no accessible toilet at the venue. The nearest toilet was George Square Theatre but a wheelchair user would have had to go around the square to access the ramp to be able to reach this level. There was a Mobiloo which was a changing places toilet next to Appleton Tower which was just off of George Square.

Staff

Excellent

Excellent. Friendly and helpful. Delayed the show so seating could be altered. Supported us to get out of the venue. The comedian who we saw made sure we were in our spaces and happy before starting the show,

Additional Information

Basic access but very good for a Fringe venue.