Festival City Theatres - Your Visit

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For an independent assessment of our access facilities, please visit www.disabledgo.info. Disabled Go provides free detailed access information for disabled people across the UK.

Smoking Policy
It is the policy of Festival City Theatres Trust that both the King's and Festival Theatres are smoke-free environments. Smoking is prohibited throughout both buildings with no exceptions. This policy applies to all employees, visitors, contractors, patrons and visiting companies.

Access: Festival Theatre
Single yellow lines and Pay and Display spaces on side streets. Double yellow line on Nicolson Street. As it is a main traffic route there is no parking at restricted times from 8.00am to 9.15pm and from 4.30pm to 6.00pm. For further car park information click Central Car Parks

Pavement ramp, or six steps with one handrail, at front of theatre. Level access is also available at a side entrance if required.

Lift access to all levels of the theatre.

Wheelchair spaces available in centre stalls. Large parties welcome.
Sennheiser infrared system in all areas of the auditorium. Headsets can be collected from the cloakroom. A Sennheiser local loop system is available for hearing aid users, please ask any member of front of house staff if you would like to use this service.

Levels One, Two and Three of the theatre all have accessible unisex toilets with emergency call buttons.

Cafe has level access on the ground floor. Bars have lift access.

Guide dogs and hearing dogs are welcome. Lift to all floors has a voice announcement. Fully trained staff are always ready to assist. Braille and tactile signage throughout the building.

* To view our current Access Brochure please visit our What's On Page *

Access: King’s Theatre
Leven Street and Home Street are Greenways and controlled by police.
Limited single yellow line parking in Tarvit Street approximately 30 metres away. For further car park information click Central Car Parks

Ramped access adjacent to the Box Office or three steps.

Four wheelchair spaces are available in the stalls. Wheelchair access is at the side of the theatre. Please notify staff at box office to gain entry.
Sennheiser infra-red system available on request. Headsets can be collected from the foyer. If you are intending to use the headsets please book your seat in the front area of the stalls.

Unisex accessible, adapted toilet on stalls level.

Bars on all levels are only accessible by stairs. However, theatre staff are available to bring refreshments to those who require assistance. Please request this service prior to the start of the performance.

Guide dogs and hearing dogs welcome.

Festival City Theatres Trust strives to make all performances as fully accessible as possible. In order to achieve these aims, we offer Audio Described performances, Touch Tours and British Sign Language interpretation. We also have copies of scripts available for audience members to borrow.

* To view our current Access Brochure please visit our What's On Page *

Audio Description

This service allows our blind and visually impaired patrons (VIPs) to enjoy their visit to the theatre, with most productions being described. Look out for the Audio Description symbol on show information pages.

This service is relayed over an infrared transmission system and you listen on a discrete headset from the comfort of your own seat. Production notes begin fifteen minutes prior to the start of the performance. The production notes include a synopsis of the plot and an aural equivalent to the printed performance programme, with background information and details of the cast and production team.

We also have trained Audio Description Ushers to help VIPs with seats, headsets (which can also be collected from the cloakroom), interval requirements and other assistance if required.

Guide dogs are welcome and we will be pleased to look after them during the performance if required. Water bowls are available at both Theatres.

Touch Tours
Prior to each audio described performance there will be a Touch Tour of the set, costumes and props. The Touch Tour will usually commence 60 minutes before curtain up. We recommend patrons be seated 15 minutes before the performance begins in order to hear the introduction to the performance. Those wishing to attend the Touch Tour should register their place when booking tickets for the performance. The Tour will start from Level 1 (stalls Level) of the Edinburgh Festival Theatre or the Box Office Foyer of the King’s Theatre, where the Audio Description usher will take you on your Tour. We may have to make last minute changes to Touch Tour schedules due to technical and cast requirements and all Touch Tours are subject to stage availability.

* For details of all performances that will be Audio Described, please visit our What's On Page *

Braille, Audio and Large Text versions of the brochure are available. Please contact the Education Department on 0131 662 1112 to be added to the mailing list.

British Sign Language Interpretation

Sign language interpreted performances allow our hearing impaired patrons to enjoy their visit to the theatre, with most productions being signed. Look out for the BSL symbol on show information pages.

Our experienced signers normally stand on the right hand side of the stage, so viewing is best from middle left stalls. Festival City Theatres staff are all fully trained in disability awareness and customer care and will be on hand to help and assist if required. Please mention that you would like to use the BSL interpretation service when booking your tickets so the Box Office staff can ensure that you are seated in the best possible area.

Hearing dogs are welcome and we will be pleased to look after them during the performance if required. Water bowls are available at both Theatres.

* For details of all performances that will be BSL Interpreted, please visit our What's On Page *

Captioning is similar to television subtitles and is a way of converting the spoken word into visible text that provides people with a hearing loss access to live performances. As the captions roll, audience members can follow what is being said, when it is being said and by whom. Sound effects and off-stage noises are also included. Captions are displayed on a display unit near the stage and are delivered live by a trained captioner using a laptop computer.

* For details of all performances that will be Captioned, please visit our What's On Page *

Festival Theatre:
There are eight spaces in the Stalls for wheelchair users, with adjacent seats for companions. There are two accessible unisex toilets.

King's Theatre:
There are four spaces at the Rear Stalls for wheelchair users, with adjacent seats for companions. There is one accessible unisex toilet.

All Front of House staff undergo Disability Awareness Training. Please contact the Front of House Duty Manager on 0131 662 1112 or email Front of House Department for further information and to let us know how we can help in any way.



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