The Central and Brook Theatres

Central Theatre

Parking and access

There is car parking for blue badge holders adjacent to the theatre. Access to the car park is from Best Street. Entry for customers in wheelchairs is through the front entrance, in the High Street and is approached via three steps, or a ramp. There is a central handrail and automatic doors at the entrance. Inside the foyer there is a flight of stairs leading to the main ground floor area. where a platform lift provides access to the stalls.

There is an alternative entrance for customers using wheelchairs, as well as those with mobility problems, at the side of the building, next to the blue badge car park. Please note that this entrance only opens 30 minutes before a performance and closes when the performance starts. A lift has been installed at the rear of the stalls to provide further access to the balcony (which is not suitable for customers in wheelchairs, however) and to the Cellar Bar.

Venue layout

• Cellar:
  
  
  • bar,
  • ladies and gentlemen’s toilets,
  • lift access to other floors.
• Street level:
  
  
  • main foyer and box office,
  • platform lift to upper foyer.
• Upper foyer / ground floor:
  
  
  • stalls,
  • sweet kiosk,
  • disabled toilets,
  • lift access to other floors.
• First floor:
  
  
  • ladies and gentlemen’s toilets,
  • administration offices.
• Second Floor:
  
  
  • balcony,
  • lift access to other floors.

Facilities for customers with disabilities

At The Central Theatre there is an infra-red system suitable for use either through earphones (obtainable at box office) or via the T setting on a hearing aid. To access either service, an adaptor needs to be obtained either from the box office or by asking a member of the front of house staff. There is no charge for this service but customers will be asked for their name and seat number.

There are also:

• high contrast, tactile signs, with braille panels, throughout the theatre;
• sales points accessible to wheelchair users at the box office and the merchandise sales points;
• wheelchair spaces available in several areas of the stalls but not in the balcony.

The Brook Theatre

Access

The main entrance is situated on The Brook and is approached via steps with handrails either side. There are automatic doors at the top of the stairs and an electric platform lift for wheelchairs and pushchairs. There is a secondary entrance on Whiffens Avenue, with a ramped entrance at street level but no automated door.

On the ground floor, there is wheelchair access to the conference room, box office, café, gallery and the toilet for disabled people. A lift in the ground floor foyer can then provide further access to the main theatre, the studio theatre and the theatre bar on the second floor. Four wheelchair spaces per performance are available in the main theatre and one per performance in the studio theatre.

Venue layout

• Basement - two flights of stairs lead to:
  
  
  • the basement dance studio,
  • the basement drama studio,
  • the function room.
• Ground floor:
  
  
  • conference room,
  • large dance studio,
  • small dance studio,
  • café,
  • art gallery,
  • box office,
  • vending services
  • ladies and disabled toilets,
  • two steps leading up to the gentlemen’s toilets, activity room and meeting room.
• First floor (accessible by either the main stairs or a passenger lift):
  
  
  • Studio Theatre,
  • Main Theatre,
  • Mayor’s Parlour
  • bar are all on the first floor.

Facilities for customers with disabilities

An infra-red loop hearing system is fitted in the main theatre. Customers wishing to use this system should call at the box office to collect a hearing device. A loop system is also fitted in the studio theatre, conference room and large dance studio. Customers wishing to use the system in these rooms should switch their hearing aids to T.

There are also:

• low range, portable loop systems available by arrangement with the Duty Manager;
• voice amplification systems at the box office;
• high contrast, tactile signs throughout the theatre;
• four wheelchair spaces per performance are available in the Main Theatre and one is available in the Studio Theatre.

Other services

• Sign language interpretation - certain shows will be sign language interpreted and you can find this information in the theatre brochures.
• Strobe lighting - warning notices advising of the use of stroboscopic lighting effects are displayed in the entrance foyer on the day of the performances concerned.
• Large print – theatre brochures are both available, on request, in large print.
• Assisted Access Scheme.

Both theatres regret that bookings for wheelchair users cannot be made online. If you would like to book tickets for a wheelchair user, please contact the box office using the information at the foot of this page and staff will contact you during normal office hours.

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