Access in our venues

Octagon

Access to the Octagon is via a sweeping ramp up to the front entrance and automatic doors. There are accessible toilets at this level in the lower foyer. Access to the bar and Main Hall is via a passenger lift up to the next floor. Wheelchair positions are available for all seated configurations. If you are attending an event without seating then please make yourself known to the Duty Managers on arrival, who will arrange priority entry and advise where best to watch the event. Please see specific information within the event details.

Drama Studio

Access to the Drama Studio front entrance is from street level up a flight of eleven stone steps to the forecourt followed by an additional four steps to the front doors. There are handrails to both sides of the sets of steps and corduroy tactile paving to assist those with visual impairment. Wheelchair access is via the accessible entrance off Shearwood Road to the left hand side of the theatre. This access leads directly into the auditorium and to the wheelchair positions at the front of the seating block. There is an accessible toilet at this level to the right of the auditorium.

Firth Hall

Step free access is provided to Firth Court via the ramp to the left of the main entrance. To enter the building via this entrance please ring the intercom on arrival. Once inside the building accessible toilets are situated on the ground floor. A lift is available to the concert hall on the first floor. A member of the team can meet you on arrival if you wish. A basic hearing loop is available for both acoustic and amplified concerts, please contact us in advance if required.

Please note, access to the lift is not completely clear – if you are coming from the box office, turn left before the main stairs along the corridor, it is in the first stairwell to the left behind double doors, about 20m along the corridor. The lift is a platform lift, and you must hold the button to call it or move it between floors.

Please also note that the distance to the hall entrance via the lift is further than immediate access via the stairs, so if you are not a wheelchair user, in some cases, this is the easier route. If you would like any assistance or guidance when you arrive please speak to a member of staff.

One parking bay outside Firth Hall is reserved for accessible parking at all times, and other bays can be booked through the Performance Venues Team.

Arts Tower – Music for the Arts Tower event

Detailed information for this event will be sent out ahead of the performance, but at present the following information provides an outline. There is step free access to all areas of the Arts Tower that will be used at this event, with the main lifts being used to access the upper floors or the atrium. There will be limited seating at this event, please contact us in advance if this is required. Please also note that accessible toilets are only available in the Atrium where the 2nd half of the event will be held, though lift access is available throughout. This event occurs over several locations with the audience moving between each area, so please bear this in mind and contact us if you have any concerns.

Hearing Impairment

All venues are fitted with both a hearing induction loop and an infra-red hearing system which are operational throughout the auditorium. Receivers for the infra-red hearing system are available from the Duty Managers. For events in Firth Hall, the hearing loop is not currently automatic for acoustic events, so please contact us in advance.

Audio Described and Captioned Performances

Where Audio Described or Captioned performances are available, this will be indicated within the details of the specific event.

Companion / Carer Tickets

Performance Venues recognises that in order for some of our customers to be able to fully access the performance and take advantage of all that we have to offer they may require support from another person.

It is our policy that where a person requires assistance to access the event they are attending we make available 1 free ticket which will enable a guest with access requirements to bring a personal assistant or companion with them to support them with their access needs.

To book a companion / carer ticket, you will need to get in touch to confirm and then buy 1 ticket for the attendee directly through the ticket provider as normal.

Please read the full information here.

Our booking form is here.