The Duchess Theatre, located on Catherine Street in London, is dedicated to providing an exceptional and inclusive experience for all theatregoers. Ensuring every visit is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible is our priority. Our Access Team is readily available to discuss and accommodate any specific access requirements you may have. Please do not hesitate to contact us by calling 0330 333 4815, emailing [email protected], or visiting us at the Duchess Theatre, 3-5 Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5LA.
Navigating the Auditorium: Stair Access and Wheelchair Solutions
Access to the Duchess Theatre auditorium involves stairs. There are 20 steps leading down to the Stalls seating area and 11 steps up to the Dress Circle. To ensure wheelchair users can access our performances, we utilize an AAT Major Stair Climber. This device is designed to safely transport manual wheelchairs up to 66cm (26 inches) in width and 89cm (35 inches) in depth, including footrests. The stair climber has a maximum weight capacity of 190kg (30 Stones), evenly distributed across the wheelchair.
For patrons who use electric wheelchairs, it may be necessary to transfer to a theatre-provided manual wheelchair upon arrival if our staff determines that the electric wheelchair is not suitable for safe operation on the Stair Climber.
To facilitate a smooth and comfortable entry, we kindly request that electric and manual wheelchair users contact our Access Team via phone or email prior to purchasing tickets. This advance notice allows us to discuss your specific needs and schedule the use of the Stair Climber for your visit. We recommend arriving at the theatre at least 45 minutes before the performance begins if you require the Stair Climber.
Designated wheelchair spaces are available in the Stalls at locations N1 and J14, each with adjacent companion seats.
Accessible Facilities for a Comfortable Visit
The Duchess Theatre is equipped with a fully accessible unisex toilet located at the rear of the Stalls auditorium. Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s toilets are available on all levels of the theatre.
Our theatre bars are conveniently situated in the Foyer and the Stalls area. For patrons who require assistance, a member of our theatre staff will be pleased to help with purchasing beverages. Programmes and ice creams are available in the main foyer and within the auditorium itself. To minimize queuing and support social distancing, we offer a pre-order service for all drinks and refreshments.
Assistance for Patrons with Specific Needs
Guide dogs and hearing dogs are warmly welcomed at the Duchess Theatre. For the comfort of both you and your assistance dog, we recommend selecting a seat at the end of a row. Alternatively, we provide a dog sitting service for up to two dogs at a time. Advance booking for this service is highly recommended.
To support patrons with hearing impairments, the theatre is fitted with a Williams Sound hearing assistance system. Headsets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We offer the following receiver models:
-
The WIR RX15-2: A user-friendly two-channel infrared receiver compatible with transmitters operating on 2.3 MHz or 2.8 MHz. This headset-style receiver provides excellent sound quality and features individual volume controls for each earphone, along with a push-button frequency selector.
-
The WIR RX22-4N: A versatile four-channel selectable infrared receiver compatible with transmitters operating on the 2.3/2.8/3.3/3.8 MHz bandwidth. It features dual infrared detectors for maximized sensitivity and operating range, extending up to 28,000 square feet in single-channel mode when used with compatible Williams Sound infrared systems. This body-pack design includes a convenient channel selector and volume control and can be used with mono or stereo headphones, earphones, or a neckloop.
Access Performances
The Duchess Theatre and the show producers are committed to offering access performances for many productions. Details of specific access performances, including Relaxed, BSL Interpreted, Audio Described, and Captioned performances, can be found on individual show pages.
For those attending relaxed performances of “The Play That Goes Wrong” at the Duchess Theatre, a visual story guide is available for download to help prepare for your visit: visual story here.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Duchess Theatre on Catherine Street, London, and ensuring your visit is both memorable and accessible. Please contact our Access Team for any further information or to discuss your specific requirements.
