Access

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. 

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.

The Central Theatre regrets 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.