[sanderling]

From the Criterion's website: Wheelchair access to the Criterion Theatre is through the level entrance beside the Stage Door in Jermyn Street, behind the theatre. Let the Box Office know you are coming in advance and press the Stage Door buzzer on arrival. Access is down a slight slope into the Upper Circle. There are two wheelchair spaces in the back row of the Upper Circle. There are 54 stairs into the Stalls level.

Well, gee thanks. Might as well say, "Welcome to the worst seats in the house, loser".

Accessibility issues aren't solely the preserve of wheelchair users, much as it serves the able-bodied to pigeonhole all disabilities together. Many people, myself included, have a problem with getting to and from theatres and, particularly, getting to my seat. Naturally, most venues were built at a time when this wasn't a consideration in architects' minds - but in the main, regional theatres have made attempts to be more user-friendly by the installation of lifts. Not so the West End. They are stuck in the gaslight era and seem happy to stay there.

Imagine gays and blacks needing to ring a bell for access and you might get an idea of the sense of alienation that notices such as the Criterion's encourage.

[Miriam]

Very true. The wheelchair seats at the Palace are right at the back of the stalls, meaning the overhang cuts off half your view if you choose to sit there. I don't think there's a lift either - it's steps all the way/

[Haz]

I would imagine a good number of the WE theatres would not be granted permission to install lifts.

[sanderling]

I would imagine a good number of the WE theatres would not be granted permission to install lifts.

Very possibly. But I doubt the Criterion is one of them. Also from their website: "During the refurbishment (in 1992) the entire block was demolished save the original part of the restaurant, the theatre auditorium & entrance staircase along with the concert hall above. The Regent's Street entrance was lost, so too the entire backstage area including the dressing rooms, offices and bars. The concert hall was converted into shops and, in most part, houses The Lillywhites Sports Store today.

The building work created a new backstage area with dressing rooms, offices and workshops plus two new bars (Greene & Stalls). The auditorium was refurbished and remodelled slightly and the theatre was extensively re-equipped.."

Plenty of non-listed stuff to go at, then, if the will was there.

[Kathryn2]

It is shocking - the disability discrimination act didn't go far enough IMO.
'Reasonable adjustments' for most WE theatres just involves a portable ramp for stairs/a separate entrance to avoid having to use them and the odd wheelchair space at the back of the auditorium - hardly ideal.

[Alexandra]

That is very poor, sanderling.

Even at the National, the wheelchair spaces are right at the back of the stalls. Not too bad, but a modern theatre ought in my view to be built to give wheelchair users access to really good seats, i.e. the same choice as non wheelchair users have.

[Laughingmonsta]

Im sure the Criteron is listed for its original Victorian tiles etc inside!

[sanderling]

Im sure the Criteron is listed for its original Victorian tiles etc inside!

Have you BEEN to the Criterion, monsta? The precious tiles are on the Piccadilly side staircase. Try the all-new Jermyn Street entrance and you won't sound such a smartarse. Have you READ their access statement? Is that how you'd like to be treated if they told you excessively tall people like yourself had to sit in the worst seats instead of blocking the view of other patrons?

Have a look here at the Leeds Grand - ALSO Grade II listed - for how to treat people with dignity: http://www.leedsgrandtheatre.com/access_unid7d7b_page.aspx

[JR1]

Is that how you'd like to be treated if they told you excessively tall people like yourself had to sit in the worst seats instead of blocking the view of other patrons?

Oh! If only!

[k8_bond]

nothing to do with london theatres but we have exactly the same problem with a community centre in cardiff. up stairs in the centre that have a a very good sized auditorium with a really good sized stage! my am dram society had been performing there for nearly 20 years! we noticed our audience numbers started to dwindle and when we did some research into why, we found that its because patrons could get up the stairs to the theatre anymore. there was definatly no way of getting someone from a wheelchair up there. this resulted in us having to leave this amazing performance space and now perform in a crummy school hall with a stage half the size and less professional looking due to the fact that the council have no plans of refurbishing the place to make it more user friendly. (all they need to do is take out a stair case and replace it with a ramp and it would be sorted!) meaning the centre could even be opened up for more uses too!!!

if anyone has any ideas as to how we can maybe get the centre fixed would be very grateful!