Access
'I've loved working at the Rose in three productions now, and I've been particularly impressed by their excellent efforts at ensuring no one is excluded from enjoying all this beautiful theatre has to offer.' - Jane Asher, President National Autistic Society; Arthritis Care; Parkinson's UK
We are committed to the continual improvement of the accessibility of both our venue and the shows we present to our community.
UPCOMING ACCESS PERFORMANCES:
Audio Described Performances:
Never Let Me Go - Tuesday 8 October, 6:30pm & Saturday 12 October, 2:30pm
Touch tours included - speak to box office on 020 8174 0090 or email info@rosetheatre.org for more information.
Across our season of productions, we aim to offer a wide range of accessible performances to ensure an enjoyable experience for all our customers. We host Audio Described, Captioned and British Sign Language Interpreted Performances. Additionally, we often offer Touch Tours of the set and props preceding the performances for Visually Impaired customers. We also offer Relaxed Performances – open to everyone and specifically adapted for people with learning disabilities and other sensory and communication needs.
Access rate tickets are the lowest price tickets available for a specific production, and if you require a companion, we offer a free ticket for them to accompany you. If this is your first time booking with us, please contact our Box Office on info@rosetheatre.org or 020 8174 0090.
We are constantly working to add further access performances. If you have questions, feedback, or just want to discuss your upcoming visit, feel free to contact the Box Office using the details above.
DOWNLOADS
The access information available on our website is also available in PDF, Word and plain-text format below for offline access and use with screen readers. These documents have been laid out slightly differently to improve their usability. Download each document in the format of your choice below:
Access Information Pack
Access booking guidance
Visual story
WHAT IS AN AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE?
These performances have a live audio-description that can be heard through headphones. The description does not interfere with the performance but fills in the gaps by describing facial expressions, costume, scenery and action sequences so that visually impaired theatregoers can follow the plot fully and independently.
A Touch Tour is for blind and partially sighted customers to familiarise themselves with the set ahead of the performance.
WHAT IS A RELAXED PERFORMANCE?
A relaxed performance is suitable for our patrons of any age who may find a regular performance too restrictive. This includes, but is not limited to, those with neuro-divergent needs, those with very young children, or those who are visiting a theatre for the first time. Relaxed performances are open to all, and anyone is welcome to book.
What's different?
- The house lights in the audience will be on so that it's not too dark
- Audiences can make noise during the show
- Audiences can come and go as they please
- There are seats available in the cafe or foyer areas if you need to leave the performance at any time.
- We make small changes to the lights and sound (such as taking out strobes lights) so that the performance is more accessible if you have sensory sensitivities
- The doors to the auditorium will remain open throughout
WHAT IS A BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE?
BSL interpreted performances are aimed at D/deaf or hearing-impaired people. Trained interpreters usually stand to one side of the stage to interpret the script used by the performers at the same time it is being performed.
The Rose allocates specific seats in the theatre so that audiences can read the interpretation clearly while still having a great view of the show.
WHAT IS A CAPTIONED PERFORMANCE?
Captioned performances are aimed at any person who may benefit from having the speech of the show, as well as audio ques and other information, displayed during the show.
The Rose currenlty has two members of staff in training with StageTEXT to deliver captions in-house. Whilst they are in training, we ask for your understanding if there are small errors in the captions.
Captions will be delivered on two caption units positioned for ease of use by our audience. Due to the shape of the auditorium and the variety of shows we produce and host the screens will not be in the same place for each show.
HOW TO BOOK
Access performances can be booked on our website.
If you need any assistance or need to purchase multiple access rate tickets, our box office team is still available to help you with your booking on 020 8174 0090 or email info@rosetheatre.org.
Patrons with additional or access needs are eligible for access pricing and those who require a personal assistant are eligible for a free personal assistant ticket. Due to limitations of our box office system, access tickets are displayed at full price in the event price list, unless patrons have informed us of their access requirements.
You can find us on: London Access Theatre, Euans Guide, and please look out for the access information under 'Event Details' on each production's page to find out what access performances are on offer.
ROSE THEATRE KINGSTON IS AN ACCESSIBLE VENUE AND AN INCLUSIVE ORGANISATION
The Rose features:
- 10 wheelchair spaces in the auditorium (stalls and circle).
- Accessible toilets on every floor with baby change facilities available in both the male and female toilets on the ground floor
- Level access into the building and The Rose Café
- An infrared hearing system in the auditorium with two types of Sennheiser receivers. Stethoset headsets can be used without hearing aids and personal neck loops can be used by those with hearing aids set to the T switch. There are areas of the auditorium with better reception than others and so we advise discussing this with Box Office at the time of booking. All headsets are available from the cloakroom and are free.
- Lift access to all floors
- Low counters at the Box Office
- Automatic doors to gain entrance into the building.
Blue Badge parking is available in the High Street and the Rose Car Park. The nearest parking is the Rose Car Park which is open until midnight, the entrance to which is on East Lane (KT1 2NN). A 10 minute drop-off spot is available outside the venue.
Please let us know in advance if you are bringing a guide dog, so that we can arrange a water bowl and dog-sitter during the performance if required.
The Rose is a Kingston Centre for Independent Living corporate partner, and will work continuously with KCIL to improve the accessibility of the venue and the events being put on.
We have achieved the first level Bronze Award of the Attitude is Everything scheme for commitment to access within the venue, and we will be working towards the silver and gold levels.
We are proud to be a Dementia Friendly organisation.
