Olivier Theatre Access
4.5
4.5
Date of visit: September 2023
I have experience of challenges around: a hidden impairment, hearing, moving around and understanding.
Overall Rating
Excellent
I LOVE the National Theatre! It's one of the most accessible theatres in London. This particular trip was to see The Father and The Assassin in the Olivier.
Disabled Access In and Around
Excellent
Every level of the theatre has step free access Content warnings clearly posted and expanded on when asked Sign to remind people there’s a T loop Wheelchair non transfer seats- at the back of stalls and step free on back row of circle for transfers. Could also stay in chair at back of circle - but would have to specifically ask for this as it's not likely it would be offered. They use Williams Sound for audio enhancement and also audio described performances. If you have hearing aids and don’t wanna take them out you can use the necklace/mic system, and there’s also the T loop. Captioning glasses- exist but we didn’t get to see them
Parking & Transport
Excellent
Parking at the National could not be easier. They have a massive car park underneath the theatre, and parking is free for blue badge holders. You do not have to book parking but there are plenty of disabled parking spaces, and if you take your car park ticket to the box office with a photo or copy of your blue badge, they will validate your ticket for you. Then you just drive towards the barrier and insert the ticket that the box office staff gave you. Only thing to note is that you should put 'national theatre car park' specifically into your navigational system, my google maps gets confused if I just put 'National Theatre' and it tries to take me a way that does not allow vehicles.
Accessible Toilets
Excellent
Accessible bathrooms available on all levels, these contain the basic features in a wheelchair accessible bathroom.
Staff
Excellent
The staff here were brilliant as always. I was told the show opens with some gunshot-like sound effects. They could not give me a cue as it was the very opening of the show, so they had a member of staff on radio hang around near where I was seated, so they could signal to me when they had clearance to begin. After the show we spoke to the front of house manager to get a bit more information for this review, and he took time to show us round the theatre and explain their audio enhancement equipment and captioning glasses.
