As an experienced operator of 23 theatre venues, the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) has long been aware of the problems faced in providing accessible and functional buildings for its disabled customers. Richard Kiernan explains the measures taken by ATG to improve access for all.
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), passed in 1995, aims to end the discrimination that many disabled people face. The Act prohibits the less-favourable treatment of disabled people (Part 1), requires businesses to make reasonable adjustments to their workplaces for disabled staff (Part 2), and places a requirement on businesses to overcome the physical barriers to their buildings (Part 3). The Act tries to ensure that disabled users can enjoy a building and its facilities as much as a non-disabled user can. The Act has gradually been phased in over the past decade in a manner that has allowed businesses and service providers the necessary time to prepare and adapt.
An audit at the start
ATG realised from the outset that creating effective access for disabled people was only the start of the process. Good management and information about accessibility was also going to be key to achieving buildings that work for everyone. As a result ATG formed a DDA Committee, charged with addressing the issues raised within the DDA relevant to our business and operation and with developing an appropriate policy.
In readiness for Part 3 of the Act, ATG also commissioned the ADAPT Trust to carry out an access audit for each of its venues. These involved a walk-through journey of each building, identifying the access issues facing our disabled customers in the various different areas of the buildings.
The audits started by examining the approach, travel to, and parking within the locality of the theatres, and onwards through the entrance doors to the foyer and box office areas. As the walk-through continued, circulation, seating, toilet facilities and the specific service-provision front of house were assessed, along with all backstage areas to cover disabled actors and production staff. The process was based on the assumption that access is deemed to be for all people, including those who are ambulant disabled, have a sensory impairment or learning difficulty, as well as wheelchair users.
The audits were completed in October 2002, allowing two years for ATG to plan, design, obtain all relevant permissions, assign finances, and programme the works, before finally implementing the practical recommendations in time for Part 3 to come into force in October 2004.
Practical implications
Once a review of the access audits had been completed we were able to assess the practicality of the recommendations within the bounds of the building environment.
The installation of, for instance, disabled ramps and accessible lifts, particularly in the older West End venues, will always prove difficult adaptations to complete without carrying out major structural and refurbishment work. ATG owns a number of venues where level access is provided direct from the street into the foyer, but once inside the disabled user is faced with a staircase to proceed to an auditorium level.
Apart from the obvious building layout and structural problems that prevent the installation of a purpose-built lift, narrow staircases prohibit the installation of a more basic stair lift, as the use of this lift during an evacuation could severely inhibit and restrict the flow of egress from the auditorium. (Information and advice relating to this type of work has to be obtained from the local Building Control Department and Fire Authority.)
Where permanent ramps proved unfeasible, a number of our venues are able to employ temporary ramps, particularly when entrance steps were relatively low, or, on occasion, when access to the foyer or auditorium proves easier via a side entrance. Although the side-entrance option is not our preferred method of greeting our customers into our venues, it allows us to achieve the best that we can practically accomplish.
Being reasonable
The DDA states that service providers need to make reasonable adjustments. Reasonable is not defined, but when making a decision as to whether an access audit recommendation was practical or not, we considered and assessed it based on cost and convenience, the resources of the service, and the effectiveness of the recommended change.
Disabled toilet provision within our older venues is also a problem, again due to the building design and lack of space. The only practical solution to creating a purpose-built disabled toilet that complies with the latest regulations is through the conversion of an existing toilet facility. The new disabled unit can then be classified a unisex facility available to all customers, with any disabled users taking priority. This solution is only practical, though, if there are sufficient toilet provisions remaining after the conversion to cope with the maximum occupancy levels.
Physical changes
In comparison with our older venues, the 28-year-old Churchill Theatre in Bromley has ample foyer space. The main access barrier identified there was that access to all auditorium levels from the foyer was via staircases. With a generous foyer area available to us we decided to install a purpose-built wheelchair lift, providing access to the mezzanine level of the Dress Circle bar, and to nine purpose-built wheelchair spaces in the auditorium. A disabled toilet was located adjacent to the lift. Where access was possible to auditorium levels, specific wheelchair-friendly spaces were provided. This has entailed adapting existing seats that could be easily removed by staff to reveal a level wheelchair space with level access direct from the aisle. As we push forward with a programme of planned bar refurbishments, where practical we will be installing new bar tops with specific sections at a lower level for ease of access by wheelchair users.
Technologies and contracts
State of the art, dual-channel, infra-red hearing systems were installed into all of our West End venues. The dual-channel ability, first, enables our hard of hearing customers to use a set of headphones that pick up microphones located on the stage via infra-red radiators located around the proscenium arch; and, second, means we are able to offer our visually impaired customers audio-described performances.
Soon after the installation of the dual-channel systems the DDA Committee made a recommendation, that has since been implemented, that a clause should be included within a producers contract requiring them to arrange assisted performances. These should include, but not be limited to, at least one each of audio-described, captioned and/or sign-language interpreted performances and touch tours during the scheduled run of a production. ATG will pay 50% towards the cost of the assisted performances.
The DDA has provided us with a new way of thinking in creating more accessible environments, and our DDA Committee has ensured that it is kept on the company agenda. This has resulted in many changes in the way we deal with our disabled customers: it is our aim to enhance all of our customers experiences of attending the theatre, not just our non-disabled customers. Our managers now have a set of guidelines that have already proved invaluable in training staff to achieve the company goal of providing accessible theatres for all.
Richard Kiernan is Building Services Manager, Ambassador
Theatre Group Ltd
e: richardkiernan@theambassadors.com