Refurbished Theatre Royal now more accessible!
4.5
4.5
Date of visit: December 2016
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Excellent
The Theatre Royal has been refurbished and is now more accessible, including automatic doors and the foyer more spacious. The stalls are now raked but the first few rows are step-free (I rang before buying tickets to get advice on this) and there are designated wheelchair spaces in the stalls and Dress Circle, which you can now access by lift. The new Colonnade Café is in the foyer area so is accessible and there is a bar at Dress Circle level too. The only real issue is that, once seated at the end of a row (we were in row C) thee was no room for people to get past. They obligingly went round a different way or carefully stepped over but we realised that the end seat in row B doesn't have a seat in front, so would be a better choice - the same applies at both ends of the row I'm pretty sure. I was able to leave my scooter against the nearby wall as it wasn't blocking anyone but it is very small, a larger one might need to be stored elsewhere - again, a phone call would be a good idea, the staff are very helpful. They also do BSL interpreted and audio described performances.
Disabled Access In and Around
Excellent
Level access and automatic doors, lift to Dress Circle.
Parking & Transport
Average
There is no parking for the theatre but there is a drop-off space outside where the kerb is lowered. Depending on your mobility, you could also do what we did - got dropped off in Duncombe Place round the corner where there is plenty of space then scooted round.
Accessible Toilets
Excellent
Ground floor loo easy to find as well sign-posted, and there is another at Dress Circle level. Spacious and with plenty of grabrails. Only issue is you can't reach the hand dryer without manoeuvring chair/scooter with wet hands.
Staff
Excellent
All very friendly and helpful. The steward near us was evidently explaining to people that I couldn't keep getting up so they needed to find an alternative way round - saved me explaining over and over again!
Additional Information
If you have ever been put off visiting the theatre because it was a crush or not very accessible - give it another go, you'll find it much improved!
