Moving around the building:

Our building is wheelchair accessible with level access throughout for audiences. We have a lift with 80cm door width and internal measurements of 140cm x 110cm. The lift goes from the basement to the first floor (theatre), second floor (studio), and third floor (office). It can hold 630kg. There is no access via the lift to the second floor of the office.

We have two performance spaces. Our main auditorium is on the ground floor, with level access from the street. Our studio is on the first floor and can be accessed via the passenger lift.

There is level access to our backstage areas on the basement level. There is level access from backstage areas to the stage, via the main theatre entrance. There is no level access to the stage via the trap door.

There are 71 stairs in our building. 

• Basement and backstage areas to first floor theatre = 21
• First floor theatre to second floor Studio = 19
• Second floor studio to third floor office = 18 
• Third floor office to upstairs office = 13 (no lift access)

Each staircase has a handrail on both sides. The staircase is 82cm wide.

 

Doors:

The external door to the building is difficult to use and opens inward; behind the external door is an automatic glass door that opens outwards. 

Doors will be kept open on show days. 

If you are coming to the building on a non-show day, a member of staff will assist with doors. 

None of the other doors in our building are automatic. A member of staff will be available to assist with doors. Where it is safe, doors will be kept open to help movement around the building.

 

Foyer/Bar: 

The Box Office counter and bar is accessible to a wheelchair user or person of short stature. It has a height of 88cm. 

We offer e-tickets, which can be selected at check out, for those who prefer to avoid the Box Office area during busy times before the show. 

We can provide publicity materials in alternative formats, including Braille, Large Print, Easy Read and Audio Recording or Screen reader friendly. To request an alternative format, please email anna@taratheatre.com.

Theatre:

We have one wheelchair seat available per performance, located on the side aisle.

We need to be aware of this at the time of booking, so seats can be removed. 

Wheelchair users access the theatre through the same entrance as other audience members. No additional assistance is needed to enter the auditorium, as long as the doors are open.

Disabled patrons are able to request early admission to the theatre.

 

Toilets:

Our accessible toilet is located on the basement level and can be reached via the passenger lift. It does not need a RADAR key. 

The disabled toilet has a 90cm door width, and an internal size of 125cm x 230cm. 

As well as an accessible toilet, we have two additional all gender toilet facilities on the basement level. One contains three urinals and one cubicle, the other contains three cubicles.  

The nearest Changing Places Toilet is at:
Southside Shopping Centre
Wandsworth
London
SW18 4TF

Train:

The nearest train station is Earlsfield, which is 100m away across a pedestrian crossing.

South Western trains every 5 minutes from Waterloo, Vauxhall, Clapham Junction and Wimbledon.

Earlsfield station is accessible with ramp access for the train and step free access with lifts to all platforms.

 

Bus: 

The nearest bus stop is 130m from Tara Theatre. 

44, 77, 270 all stop at Earlsfield Station.

 

Car: 

Parking is available from 4.30pm on Thornsett Road, first on the left after Tara Theatre. 

Disabled parking is available on Magdalen Road, near the junctions with Garratt Lane and Tranmere Road.

Inside the dressing room there is a bathroom with a toilet and shower. This has a door width of 78cm, and internal measurements of 115cm x 330 cm.

There is level access to the stage/performance area. There is no level access from the dressing room to the stage/performance area via the trap door.

There is level access to the tech booth on the second floor of the building.

The hallway that gives access to the tech booth has a door width of 80cm and internal width of 96cm. The tech booth has a door width of 70cm and a width of 108cm from the desk to the back wall.

Please inform our Welcome Team on arrival. To use our induction loop system, turn your hearing aid to T.

You are welcome to bring your assistance dog to Tara Theatre. Please request an aisle seat when you book. Alternatively we are happy to dog sit for you.

Please email bookings@taratheatre.com if you are planning to bring an assistance dog to the theatre.

We offer a concession ticket price for anyone who identifies as D/deaf or disabled. We offer free tickets to PAs/carers.

We want our work to be as financially accessible as possible. Our tickets are affordable and we offer a range of concession prices. However, if you are still unable to afford a ticket please get in touch by emailing bookings@taratheatre.com, and we will do what we can to help. 

Audio Description:

Audio Description provides information about the visual elements of a production. The description is delivered live, in between dialogue, through small headsets.

We currently provide audio described performances on an ad hoc basis – please check show pages for dates. We aim to provide one per show run, but are currently unable to do so due to funding constraints.

We are committed to delivering at least one audio described performance per show by 2024.

Touch tours can also be offered before each audio described performance enabling the audience to explore the stage and get a feel of the set and costumes before the play starts.

 

Captioned Performances:

A caption unit displays the performers’ words and provides information such as music and sound effects, in a similar way to subtitles on television. Captions may also be useful for audience members who are D/deaf or hard of hearing or who speak English as a second language.

We also aim to provide one captioned performance per show run, but are currently unable to do so due to funding constraints. 

We are committed to delivering at least one captioned performance per show by 2024. 

 

British Sign Language:

During a British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreted performance an interpreter stands at the side of the stage, clearly visible to the audience, and interprets the spoken word and sound effects for D/deaf audience members who use BSL. In performances with integrated BSL, the interpreter will be part of the action on stage.

If the particular show you are attending is marked as BSL Interpreted performance, please let the Box Office you are booking to use the interpreter and they will seat you appropriately.

We are committed to delivering at least one captioned performance per show by 2024. 

Relaxed Performances:

It is our aim that all our performances and events are inclusive, allowing for movement in the auditorium and re-entry if needed wherever possible. You are able to leave our auditorium at any point during a performance. 

We also schedule dedicated relaxed performances for our audience members who would prefer a more relaxed performance environment, including those with an autism spectrum condition or learning disability. These performances allow for noise and movement in the auditorium, a chill-out space for audience members who may need time away and re-entry when needed. 

We also aim to provide one relaxed performance per show run, but are currently unable to do so due to funding constraints.

We are committed to delivering at least one relaxed performance per show by 2024.

If a show contains difficult, adult or distressing themes or language we will include content warnings on individual show pages. These will also be displayed in our foyer before the performance. Certain shows will also have age restrictions, this will be indicated on the event page.

Breastfeeding is welcome throughout the building.

We have a changing area, and are able to heat up milk/food.

Buggies and mobility scooters can be stored in our foyer.

We do not have a dedicated prayer room or quiet space, but we will do everything we can to accommodate visitors to find them space in our building. Please email ellie@taratheatre.com to discuss this in advance.

Tara Theatre is a gender inclusive organisation and building. We welcome people of all genders to our building, and do not tolerate any discrimination based on gender or gender presentation. 

Our toilet facilities are for all genders, and are labelled according to available facilities (urinals/cubicles). Everyone should use the toilet facilities that they are most comfortable with.