Access
Welcome!
The Oxford Playhouse team aims to make everyone welcome to the Playhouse, our Burton Taylor Studio and our community spaces if you have any concerns or particular access issues you would prefer to discuss with us before arranging your visit please talk to the Box Office team on 01865 305305. We are happy to make any possible adjustments we can to make your visit more enjoyable.
The information below may be of use to wheelchair users, parents with pushchairs or toddlers, audience members with any form of restricted mobility, hearing or visual impairment. Whatever your reason for requesting some of this information we hope you find it useful and would welcome feedback to admin@oxfordplayhouse.com
Auditorium
All seats in the stalls and circle have arms. The width between these arms is approximately 17 inches (43-44cm). An accessible toilet and baby changing facility are located on the ground floor, as you enter the auditorium through Door A.
The closest seating to this accessible toilet would be the seats on the end of rows closest to Door A (beginning with Seat 1) at the back of the auditorium (rows Q, R ,S and T).
Ticket Information
Oxford Playhouse offers discounted tickets priced at £11.50 and £15 (dependent on the show) to patrons who are registered with a visual or hearing impairment and also to patrons in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Attendance Allowance. A companion can also buy a ticket at this discounted price in advance.
Parking
There is a number of disabled parking spaces on Beaumont Street itself on both sides of the street. There are some more on St Giles. See the Blue Badge parking map. The nearest car park to Oxford Playhouse is the underground car park in Gloucester Green, however there are no lifts so it's not accessible for disability/pushchairs. There is also a height restrictions in operation so if you are travelling by mini bus, check at www.oxfordcity.co.uk.
Level Entry
There are no steps leading up to the entrance of the Playhouse and access to the stalls is on the same level. There is a low level accessible counter at both the Box Office and the foyer bar. The floor in the stalls of the auditorium is carpeted and there are no steps. In the stalls we are able to accommodate wheelchairs at the end of rows E and L. There are two spaces in the centre of row T (on either side of the sound desk), which can be used for larger chairs.
Unfortunately we have been unable to install a lift because of the restrictions of the building itself. Access to the First Floor, First Floor Cafe Bar, Hospitality Room and Top Room is by stairs only. If you are booking for an event not held in the main auditorium please talk to the Box Office staff regarding access.
Stairs Around the Venue
To access the downstairs toilets following the one way system, there are 3 steps beside the box office, then a small landing, followed by 9 more steps. There is a handrail on one side. Ascending back up to the foyer bar on the other side of the one way system, there are 13 steps with no handrail.
To access the Circle Bar, both staircases have 3 steps to a small landing with a short handrail which is quite high on one side. This is then followed by 12 more steps with handrails on both sides before reaching another small landing. There is then another staircase of 8 steps with handrails on both sides.
There are two additional steps, with a handrail on one side, to access the circle seating. In the circle, due to the raked seating, there are multiple steps with no handrail.
To access the Circle Bar toilets, there are 2 shallow steps in the corridor with no handrail.
Burton Taylor Studio
The Burton Taylor Studio is just round the corner from Oxford Playhouse. The auditorium is situated on the second floor of the Burton Taylor Studio, accessed via two flights of stairs.
We have a stair climber for wheelchair users. If you would like to use this facility please book at least 2 days in advance on 01865 305305 or email robert.bristow@oxfordplayhouse.com
Toilets
There is an adapted toilet located on the entrance level to the Playhouse, which also has baby changing facilities. The toilet door is button push.
Storage
If you need to store a pushchair or wheelchair, please ask a member of our front of house staff and they will assist you and ensure you have access to this during the interval and at the end of the performance.
Bar & Kiosk
The Foyer Bar and Kiosk are both wheelchair accessible which are located in the main foyer.
Seating Around the Venue
We have limited seating in the foyer area and Circle Bar. This seating includes built-in padded benches with a back and plastic chairs with backs. Upstairs there are also built-in padded benches, as well as padded chairs with arm-rests and backs, there are also stools with no back.
Guide and Assistance Dogs
Assistance dogs are welcome, please advise Box Office on booking of any particular requirements you may wish us to make to accommodate your dog. It is always worth checking with staff before you go in to a performance if there is anything unusual about the play which might affect your dog.
Sennheiser & Ear Defenders
If you find it challenging to hear the dialogue for performances, we have infrared headphones to increase the dialogue level for you as well as a loop necklace that can boost the sound level straight to your hearing aid. If you struggle with loud noises or have young children that struggle with this then we have ear defenders that can reduce the sound level so you can still enjoy the performance.
Please ask a member of the front of house team or a ticket office assistant who will be able to provide this equipment and support you.
Audio and Enlarged Print Brochures
The Oxford Playhouse brochure can be provided in alternative formats including audio CD's and enlarged A4 print. Please contact our marketing team at marketing@oxfordplayhouse.com
If you are visiting the Playhouse then you may be interested in our visual stories, visual resources designed to be of help to children or young adults with Autism and Aspergers Syndromes.
A visual story for Oxford Playhouse and the Burton Taylor Studio for use alongside our relaxed performances are available to download.
Please note, our BT visual story is from 2017.
