Overview

While a bit of a maze, Leeds Playhouse is an interesting building with step-free access throughout, several disabled toilets and a Changing Places toilet that are open to the public whenever the venue is open, not just for visitors coming to see a show.

Transport & Parking

The bus station is just across the road and there is a level crossing with traffic lights and tactile markings right in front of the café. The Changing Places toilet is on the other end of the building, so keep this in mind if distance is an issue. There are bus stops on Eastgate, for example Victoria (1, 38, 39, 42, 51, 52), and New York Street, for example Cultural H (4, 4F, 16, 16A, 19, 19A, 64) and Cultural G (75, 163, A1 Flyer). There are some paying multi-storey car parks at Victoria and the markets, but if you drive up to Playhouse Square at the top of the hill, you can find some blue badge parking. You can then go in via the main entrance and take the lift to floor 2, where the Changing Places bathroom will be not far from the lift to your left.

Access

All of the doors into the building are automatic sliding doors and there a no steps at the entrances. There are two lifts, one at either end of the building, that both go to floor 2, where the Changing Places toilet is. The lift from the main entrance, which takes you closes to the Changing Places bathroom, is quite small, but there is no need to turn around, as the entrance from the foyer is from one side and the exit on floor 2 on the other. It is on the left of the lobby when you enter from outside. There is a mirror and a handrail at the side, a hearing loop, but no Braille. The numbers on the buttons are raised and the button for the exit is raised. The floors are smooth and even (no carpets). There is seating throughout the building of different kinds, most of it cushioned and with backrests. There is a hearing loop at the box office desk, as well as portable hearing loops and ear defenders for borrowing.

Toilets

Leeds Playhouse has a Changing Places bathroom that is accessible to everyone during the building's opening hours. It does not need to be unlocked with a RADAR key. You will find it on the second floor, near the lift that comes up from the main entrance on Playhouse square. The door opens to the outside right and the handle is a lever. There is a horizontal grab rail on the inside of the door. The door locks by turning the extended twist lock. The whole space is within reach of the ceiling hoist. The toilet is on the left side of the back wall. There is space for both a right and left-side transfer. There are vertical grab rails on the wall and moveable horizontal ones to either side of the toilet. The flush is a lever on the wall behind the toilet on the left side. There is a red cord on the right of the toilet that ends slightly above the floor. There is a sanitary bin and a colostomy shelf at the wall to the right of the toilet. The toilet paper is to the left of the colostomy shelf, which is quite far from the toilet. There are two fabric partitions in metal frames that have wheels to easily move them next to the toilet in the middle of the back wall and more stored behind the changing bench, which sits on the right wall as you enter. The changing bench has padding on the main area and a metal guard rail that can be raised on the side. There is a dispenser for paper sheets on the back wall at the head of the bench. The changing bench has wheels and is height adjustable, but there are no instructions posted for the bench or the hoist. The sink is a large wall-mounted sink with a lever tap and is height-adjustable with a button on the front right. There are vertical handrails on the wall on either side of the sink and dispensers for soap and disinfectant mounted on the wall above it. To the left of the sink, there is a hand dryer and to the right, a towel dispenser mounted on the wall. Below that is a large foot pedal bin that also has a groove in the lid to lift it. There is another red cord by the wall to the left of the door, which is closest to the hand dryer to the left of the sink. There is no shower.

Staff

When I visited, I was mainly interested in checking out the accessibility of the building and the box office staff were a little surprised when I showed up on a quiet weekday afternoon. Still, they were very happy for me to have a look around and even put me in touch with their inclusion officer, who gave me a tour and told me about all of the ways they are trying to make the venue accessible. If you are coming in just for the Changing Places toilet and go via the main entrance at Playhouse Square and take the lift up to level 2, you won't even pass the box office and chances are you will not meet any employees. If, however, you need any help, there should be someone at the box office on level 1 who can assist.

Photos