Access resources: Our main entrance is at street level of King Street and fully wheelchair accessible with automatic doors to facilitate comfortable access. There are two allocated wheelchair spaces in the Dress Circle of the Theatre. The Dress Circle is accessed from the Foyer via lift and there are accessible toilet facilities and step-free access to seats on this level. If you are worried that a seat isn’t wide enough, you require more space or you wish to talk through the different seating options in order to know where is best for you to sit in the theatre, please contact the Box Office. We have both Gender Neutral and Gender Specific toilet facilities available. We’re delighted that we are now working with Nimbus Disability, to make ticketing and access to Bristol Old Vic inclusive for customers with accessibility requirements. This means that from August 2024, our access customers will require either an Access Card or a free Bristol Old Vic Digital Access Pass number. A sound enhancement system through use of a headset or individual loop is available for all performances. These are available from the Box Office on arrival to the Theatre. Guide, hearing or other working dogs are welcome. Please notify the Box Office at time of booking. People with disabilities requiring an essential companion are eligible for a 50% Access Discount for you and an essential companion. There is a Resting Space located at Pit level, next to the Kiosk, and is open for all. Created in consultation with disabled artist Raquel Meseguer Zafe, it is “a space where people are genuinely welcome to rest and to lie down; a space where you’re invited to drop public etiquette and do what you need to do to be well and comfortable.”. Access Performances: Audio Described, Audio Described (AD) performances provide theatre experiences for partially sighted or visually impaired audiences. Audience members listen to a live narrator who details what is happening on stage, through a set of headphones. Free touch tours of the set and stage are offered before the show – when booking, please let us know if you would like to attend. Audio notes are available for download on each show page and will be posted or emailed to audience members prior to the performance to ensure a full sensory experience. Signed, A signed performance features a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter who interprets the shows for deaf audiences. Captioned, Captioned (CAP) performances convert live spoken word into text that appears on a screen for D/deaf or hard of hearing audiences. The actors’ words appear on a screen at the same time as they are spoken or sung on stage. Creative Captioned Performance, Creative Captioned performances convert live spoken word into text that appears on a screen for D/deaf or hard of hearing audiences. However, rather than standard captioning, the text is considered as part of the set design, and may be animated and move across the screen, or appear in different colours or fonts. Creative Captioning also typically appears as a projection at the back of the stage, rather than on separate screens. The captions are embedded within the production and mean the performance is accessible to d/Deaf audiences, but can also be enjoyed by hearing audiences. Artistic Captioning, Artistic Captioning performances convert live spoken word that appears on a screen. The captions play an artistic role within the production and are considered as part of the set design, and can be enjoyed by D/deaf audiences as well as hearing audiences. It is not guaranteed that every line in the script will be readable/visible for d/Deaf audiences. Relaxed, Specifically set-up to be sensitive to, and accepting of, audience members who may benefit from a more relaxed environment – including (but not limited to) those with autistic spectrum conditions, anyone with sensory and communication disorders, and learning disabled people. This means we welcome a more relaxed approach inside the theatre and in the front of house areas to allow everyone to enjoy the show in their own way, whether that includes the need to move in and out of the auditorium during the performance, make involuntary noises, or take a bit more time to adjust to surroundings. Babes in arms are welcome for these performances (not walking or requiring their own seat). For Relaxed Performances, we can provide a tailored visual story. We also reduce the sound levels and reduce any flashing lights or loud bangs/noises that would normally happen throughout the performance. The house lights are kept on at a reduced level and we have a dedicated quiet room available for anyone that needs to take a break from the theatre environment. If you need any further assistance, for example if a visit to the Theatre in advance of the show would help with being able to come and watch the performance, then either contact the Box Office on 0117 987 7877 (1pm to 6pm Mon to Sat) or email access@bristololdvic.org.uk and we will try and help you in any way we can. Please note we currently don’t allow emotional support dogs in our theatre at this time.
Bristol Old Vic
