Bristol Hippodrome Holds First Accessible Theatre Tour for Euan’s Guide Awareness Day
A Bristol theatre will be taking part in a special UK wide Disabled Access Day this weekend.
The Bristol Hippodrome is one of 13 Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) theatres which is taking part in a national awareness day sponsored by Euan’s Guide.
On Saturday 12 March 2016, the theatre will be running its first Accessible Theatre Tour.
Access Manager at The Bristol Hippodrome Trish Hodson said: “We will be taking part by trialling an Accessible Theatre Tour for patrons with a physical disability. Joining the tour will be invited attendees and the theatre will be using it as a feedback gathering exercise. Attendees will be given the full stage experience prior to moving to the front of the theatre where a video tour will be shown. When the tour has finished the guests will be treated to refreshments and theatre staff will collect feedback from them. The aim is to find out from our access patrons if this kind of tour works and any suggestions they may have to improve it. We then hope to be able to offer these tours on a more regular basis, opening up the history of the Hippodrome to everyone”.
Other ATG venues across the country will be holding touch tours, captioned and audio described performances and BSL interpreted performances.
In the summer of 2015, improvements were made to Access facilities at the theatre with the launch of a new bespoke platform area for wheelchair using theatre goers.
The previous platform near the rear of the stalls auditorium could only be accessed by a lift. Now customers are able to come straight in from the Access entrance on Denmark Street and onto the platform.
The theatre already offers regular assisted performances including BSL, Hearing Loop, Audio Described, captioned and Relaxed Performances.
For Access enquiries and bookings contact the team at the theatre on: 0117 302 3222 (voice or minicom Mon-Fri 10am – 6pm) or email trishhodson@theambassadors.com.
For deaf/hard of hearing textphone users 18001 + access telephone number. For more information on Text Relay visit www.textrelay.org
