Access

Proudly supported by The St Edmunds Trust

Everyone is welcome at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds and we provide a wide range of support and services to ensure you have an enjoyable and comfortable visit.

On this page, please find information on what to expect when accessing our historic building, available provisions for our audiences and the support available for accessing visual and audio information.

If you require any assistance or further information regarding access or accessible seating, please do get in touch with our Box Office, or take a look at our Access Guide.

Visiting us in Bury St. Edmunds

  • Our front entrance on Westgate Street has step-free access to our Box Office, our Greene Room Bar, accessible toilets and seating in the Dress Circle. Selected Dress Circle Boxes F, H, K & M all have wheelchair accessible spaces, subject to availability.

    As Theatre Royal is 200 years old and a listed building, we are unfortunately unable to provide lift access for customers. It’s important to note, all areas of the auditorium except for the Dress Circle are only accessible via stairs; Pit (25 steps), Upper Circle (14 steps), Gallery (29 steps).

    Online booking for wheelchair users will be available soon. Until this is in place, we ask you to book via our Box Office in person or over the phone to ensure we can fully accommodate your visit.

    Access to the Theatre from the Greene King Staff Car Park is via steps with a handrail (3-minute walk). Customers who are unable to access the Theatre via steps can be dropped off at the front of the Theatre before the show (Westgate Street).

Booking your accessible tickets

  • We’re making changes to make it easier for customers with accessibility requirements to book their theatre tickets online.

    By logging in to your Theatre Account, you can choose to provide additional information on your personal accessibility requirements, whether you are a carer, use a wheelchair or make use of captioning, you can update your access details via Other Preferences.

    Providing this information will give you online access to selected seating, identified to best suit your access needs such as wheelchair accessible seating, and best-view seats for captioning screens and BSL interpreters. Wheelchair accessible seating will appear as a wheelchair symbol, with your companion displayed as a C.

    If you would rather book in person or over the phone, our Box Office team are happy to help choose the right seats for you.

  • If you are registered carer, or if you are an essential companion for someone who requires personal assistance throughout the duration of their visit and would otherwise not be able to attend the theatre on their own, we are happy to offer you a complimentary Assisting Companion ticket.

    If you require an Assisting Companion ticket, you will need to speak to our Box Office team before being able to access them via your account online.

Find the right access performance for you

  • Similar to subtitles in films, captioning converts the spoken word and sound effects in a performance into text which appears on a screen at the side of the stage as it is happening. We would recommend sitting in the Pit of Dress Circle.

    View performances

  • Spoken English is translated into British Sign Language by an on-stage interpreter as the performance takes place. BSL interpreters will normally translate from the left of the stage, so we’d recommend central seats in the Pit.

    View performances

  • Audio Described performances give you live commentary on the action happening on stage through a pair of optional headphones, available upon request, suitable for those who are blind or visually impaired.

    View performances

  • Touch Tours offer a free, guided chance to explore the set through touch and feel, available before Audio Described performances, Touch Tours can be booked when purchasing your tickets.

    View performances

  • In these performances, changes will be made to the show to create a more informal experience. Sound volume and lighting levels will be reduced to soften their impact; pyrotechnics, flashing lights, and other surprising elements are removed; and the auditorium lights will remain on during the performance.

    The show will also begin with an introduction to the characters, explaining, in particular, any elements which may be unfamiliar to some, with a brief description of the story and events which will happen during the performance.

    The Relaxed Performances are intended to be dementia and autism-friendly but the team aims to accommodate all guests’ needs as much as possible: seats can be booked in a manner which allows groups their own space and due to the nature of the layout of the Dress Circle and Upper Circle boxes, a smaller semi-isolated space can be easily obtained.

    View performances

Support available for your visit

  • If it’s your first visit, or you are unfamiliar with the building, we will be happy to answer any questions you may have, and you are welcome to visit us ahead of your performance, to familiarise yourself with what to expect on arrival and when you head to your seats.

    Please get in touch with us to arrange a familiarity visit, so we can ensure you visit can be fully accommodated.

  • Our auditorium, and selected counters, have active hearing loops. They can be connected to through turning your hearing aid to the ‘T’ function. All seats, excluding the first three rows of the Pit and boxes A&S in the Dress Circle, have access to this function.

  • Assistance Dogs are welcome at Theatre Royal, with selected seating in the Dress Circle most suitable. An Assistance Dog must stay with their owner at all times and water is available upon request.

  • Live theatre can be noisy, so we have access to a small number of ear defenders for children and adults for anyone finding it too loud, available at all performances. Please talk to a steward if you would like to use a pair of our ear defenders, or you are welcome to bring your own with you.

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