Accessibility

Access is at street level, the main entrance is a paved flat surface with a slight uphill gradient. There are automatic doors at the main entrance and approximately 5 metres in to the foyer space.

Assistance dogs are welcome. Assistance dogs are dogs that have been highly trained to carry out a range of tasks and alerts that support a disabled person or person with a long-term medical condition. Examples include a guide dog that guides a visually impaired person, a medical alert dog that alerts a person to an oncoming medical episode, an assistance dog that alerts someone with a psychiatric condition to take medication.

There is a lift to all floors, accessible toilets throughout the building and wheelchair spaces within the ground level section of the auditorium. We also have wheelchairs on site for visitor use if required.

The Shop and Box Office is on the left hand side and is fully accessible with low-level counter.

The Atkinson’s brochure is available in alternative formats from the Box Office.

An induction loop is set up on our Box Office counter and full infra-red emitters are in the Theatre auditorium.

The building is well-lit.

Tables and chairs in the café are free standing. Large print menus will be available on request.

Ramps allow for wheelchair and pushchair access to the ground floor library and lift. The junior library is accessible via the lift in the main library.

There is a disabled toilet on the ground floor in between the foyer and the Library – this is accessible with a radar key. If you don’t have one – please ask any member of staff or at any manned desk on the ground floor.

The Café is on the right hand side of the entrance and is fully accessible with no steps.

The Shop is open when the Box Office is open.

Ground Floor – There are accessible toilets throughout the building and a dedicated spacious accessible toilet facility on the Ground Floor.

First Floor – The Atkinson’s fully equipped Changing Places facility is fully lockable, has a floor space of 12 square meters and includes a H frame ceiling track hoist, a wall mounted height adjustable adult sized changing bench, a peninsular toilet, a height adjustable washbasin, a shower, a non-slip floor, a privacy screen, a paper roll and two emergency cords.

Second Floor – There are accessible toilets on the 2nd Floor.

The Theatre and the Studio are located on level 1 of the building, and there are 32 steps up from the foyer.

Both Atkinson’s theatre spaces are equipped with an infra-red hard of hearing system. Patrons will need one of two receivers that we have in order to access the system fully. Patrons with a ‘T’ position equipped hearing aid can use the individual loop device receiver (EKI 830). Hard of hearing patrons can use the ear bows receiver (HDI 830). Please note this device is NOT suitable for patrons who have pacemakers or implanted defibrillators due to the magnetic field generated by the ear bows. Devices, with instruction sheets are available to loan for Atkinson shows. Please ask at Box Office staff or a member of the Front of House team if you wish to use either receiver. When booking seats, it is important to note that the infra-red emitters work from row E upwards in the theatre auditorium. There is no charge for the use of these devices.

Our recommended seats for visually impaired visitors are:
Theatre Shows: Row D – seats 8-15.
Studio Shows: Row D – seats 6-13.

Wheelchairs enter the Theatre from level 2. There is a lift and a member of the team is always on hand to help you in any way. Accessible seating is located on U row, this is on a flat floor. There is potential for views to be obstructed if customers seated in rows in front are standing, especially during music shows when dancing is encouraged by the acts on stage.

Within the Studio wheelchairs enter through the main doors – there are no steps.

There are disabled toilets within the Studio.

The Theatre Bar is on level 1 has no steps and the counter in lowered in the centre for access.

The Studio Bar is on level 1 within the actual performance space on the left hand side and the counter is lowered for access.