ABOUT FESTIVAL THEATRE

Access

The Festival and King's Theatres aim to be accessible to all and we are committed to making your visit to our theatres as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. All of our Front of House staff undergo disability awareness training and will be pleased to assist you should you require any information or help. If you need any further information, wish to make any comments or suggestions, or would like to let us know how we can help you in any way, please feel free to contact our Front of House Duty Manager on 0131 662 1112.

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.

This website has been created with Accessibility in mind. Please click here to view more details.

Arriving at the Festival Theatre

If you are arriving by car please note that there are double yellow lines on Nicolson Street directly outside the theatre. As it is a main traffic route there is no parking at restricted times from 8.00am to 9.15am and from 4.30pm to 6.00pm. There are single yellow lines and Pay and Display spaces on nearby side streets.

Access from the road to the front of the theatre is up six steps with one handrail (at the right hand side of the building) or up a pavement ramp (along the front of the building from the left hand side). Level access is also available at the side entrance to Café Lucia.

Inside the theatre there is lift access to all levels. Lifts have voice synthesisers to assist visitors. Braille and tactile signage are also located throughout the building.

At the Box Office

The Box Office is situated on the right hand side of the foyer in the Festival Theatre. Tickets can also be booked by calling 0131 529 6000, online or by using RNID typetalk on 18001 0131 529 6003. If you have any specific seating requirements please let the box office know when you book your tickets.

Wheelchair users

There are eight spaces in the stalls for wheelchair users, with adjacent seats for companions. Two of these spaces have companion seats nearby but not directly beside. Please let the Box Office know your requirements at the time of booking.

Accessible Toilets

There are unisex accessible toilets on levels one, two and three of the theatre - all have emergency call buttons.

Refreshments

Café Lucia on our ground floor has level access, and all bars have lift access.

Assistance with hearing

The Festival Theatre has a Sennheiser infrared system covering all areas of the auditorium. Headsets can be collected from the cloakroom on the ground floor of the Festival Theatre.

A Sennheiser personal loop system is available for hearing aid users. Adapters should be collected from the cloakroom on the ground floor of the Festival Theatre. Please note that at some performances, audio equipment is / headsets and adapters are in high demand but we will do all we can to accommodate your needs.

Guide dogs and Hearing Dogs

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

Accessible Performances

Audio description

Many productions are audio described for visually impaired theatregoers via headsets, which can be collected from the cloakroom. Staff will be on hand to offer advice on how to operate the headsets. We broadcast a simultaneous commentary describing the action, the sets and set changes, the costumes and the characters. We recommend that patrons be seated 15 minutes before the performance begins in order to hear the introduction to the performance. The introduction 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.

Prior to the audio described performance there will be a Touch Tour of the set, costumes and props. The Touch Tour will be usually commence 60 minutes before the performance begins. Those wishing to attend the Touch Tour should reserve a place when booking tickets for the performance (please note that spaces are limited). The Touch Tour will start from Level 1 (the stalls level) of the Festival Theatre from where the Audio Description usher will take you on your tour. Touch Tour schedules are subject to technical and cast requirements and stage availability.

BSL - British Sign Language Interpreted

BSL performances allow our hearing impaired patrons to enjoy their visit to the theatres, with many productions being interpreted. 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. Our 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.

Captioning

- delivers open captioned performances. Captioning is a way of converting the spoken word into visible text that provides people with a hearing loss access to live performance. Captions are shown on a raised display unit near the stage and are delivered live by a trained captioner. 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.

Please check the production pages of our brochure or our website for details of which shows will be described, interpreted or captioned (indicated by the above logos), or ask our box office staff when booking.

After the show

Our Front of House staff will be happy to order a taxi after the performance for those with mobility issues.

Artlink (Edinburgh and the Lothians) provide a volunteer companion service for people who have difficulty in attending performances. For details please telephone 0131 229 3555 (Mon - Fri).

Braille, audio and large text versions of our brochure are available. Please contact the marketing department on 0131 662 1112 or email marketing@eft.co.uk to be added to the mailing list. With thanks to VIMAC and Lothian Sound.