Overview

I have so wanted to see 2:22 - A Ghost Story for ages. When I realised it was on in Dublin when I was on holiday it seemed the perfect opportunity, and I am so glad I saw the show, I loved it. However, I was frustrated and put off in trying to book tickets online via ticketmaster. Apart from reading on the theatre's own website that the entire stall section is step free, when I went to try to book tickets in the stalls, the way ticketmaster was working I could not work out if a seat I was being offered in the stalls was at the end of a row. Instead if I wanted accessible, step free seating I was required to to register and provide/ upload documentary evidence to proof eligibility, which is confidential sensitive personal information without knowing how they treat it or store it. I am not asking for a companion seat, I am just wanting to know what step free and end of row seats are available and I do not see why I have to hand over personal data about my medical diagnosis to obtain the information I require to be able to book independently, when simply information about accessible seating could be on the theatre's website. I ended up going to the theatre box office in person and buying my ticket from them. Due to the way I purchased my ticket, I am not sure if I would have had a better experience if I had declared my disability in advance. However, this was one of the worst theatre experiences I have had since being disabled.

Transport & Parking

The theatre is in Dame Street, a main road in Temple Bar, where several bus routes stop very close to the theatre. All local buses have a ramp at the front. Then it is a couple of minutes level walk to the theatre.

Access

BOOKING OFFICE I've raised the booking problems and the lack of good, helpful accessible information online to enable me to independently make a booking for a step free seat at the end of a row. I went prior to the start of the performance to the box office which is immediately adjacent to the theatre's main entrance. It has a manual door but step free access. My access needs were sorted out quickly but although I was requesting a step free seat, I was not advised that there was a separate step free entrance round the back. GETTING INTO THE THEATRE I showed my tickets at the main entrance and was immediately face with descending 5 steps. There was a handrail in the middle of the steps and the edge of each step was marked with a white line. I then walked a little further and there was a staircase leading up into the theatre. I then retraced my steps and went back to the door staff and asked about the step free entrance. STEP FREE ENTRANCE From the main entrance turn left along Dame Street until you come to an alleyway next to Brogans, see photo. Turn into the alleyway and at the bottom there is the step free entrance to the stalls on your left and on your right the entrance to the circle and upper circle. There is someone there to check the tickets. From there I went through a corridor and came out at the rear of the stalls, this area was almost in darkness, see photo. I had never visited the theatre before, and I could only see a member of staff by the front of the stage door in the opposite. Thankfully a passer-by took mercy on me and helped me look for my seat, which turned out to be on the opposite side of the theatre. I had to walk round to there almost in complete darkness. This is not accessible for disabled people, especially those with mobility or visual impairments. STALLS I managed to find my chair. When you open up your chair, not only does the seat come down but the arms come down and back goes back. I had not come across this design before and found it quite tricky opening it while I was holding my crutch to still support me as I transferred.

Toilets

There was no signage for the accessible toilet. I walked to where the doors were open at the front, but only saw a sign for the ladies. I then walked back towards the bar area and asked for assistance. I found out that the accessible toilet was inside the ladies. There was a queue but kindly when the accessible toilet became available I was let in ahead of the queue. The space in the toilets is already quite tight especially when there is a queue and would possibly provide a challenge to powerchair users. The accessible toilet shares space with a drop down baby changing facility. The toilet itself well maintained, clean and tidy. However, the floor space around the toilet is has two bins and a raised area around the back and one side of the toilet reducing the space. One of the grab rails is below the sink, see photo, it was at such an angle see photo, that for me it was difficult to use the grab rail in the way I would normally use one. There was no emergency cord.

Staff

Staff's lack of awareness or thoughtfulness about step free access was grossly disappointing. Urgent disabled access awareness training needed, as not one member of staff was proactive about my access needs and one was very dismissive to the point of rudeness. The staff in the box office were lovely and helpful. However, given I had requested a step free seat they did not think of informing me how to get into the theatre step free, also I have a crutch. Neither did the ticket staff on the main door think about asking if I would like step free access, and to be honest they were not that busy as there was only a couple of people behind me. Only when I went back and asked them, was I given directions to the step free route. After getting my tickets checked in the alleyway, I went though a corridor into the rear of the stalls. No staff was there to welcome visitors who came via the step free route and more so the entire rear stalls were very dark, so it felt unsafe walking as I couldn't see properly were I was going. In the interval I ended up going into the bar while trying to find the accessible toilet. The bar was busy but there were only a couple of people waiting at the ice cream booth so I joined the queue and when my turn came I asked the woman were the toilets were, she made no attempt to assist and directed me to the staff at the bar. I found her attitude ableist, unhelpful and not customer friendly, to the point of bordering on rudeness and disinterest, which is not the vibe you want when you are trying to have a nice night out. Thankfully the person at the bar was very helpful and directed me to where I needed to go.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Positives: Loved the show, its great that the entire stalls are step free Negatives: Lack of useful access information on the theatre website, trying to book a step free, end of row seat is impossible with how ticketmaster just throw up a random seat, and there is no option to see the entire seating and book your own preferred seat. Lack of signage for step free route and accessible toilets. Arriving at the rear of the stalls without anyone to welcome people arriving via step free route (lack of equity to non-disabled people who come via the main entrance), coming into a totally darkened area of the rear stalls which is a health and safety issue, seating that is quite awkward to get into if you have an impairment, staff's dismal lack of awareness of access needs which made me feel like a second class citizen as I had lost my independence and autonomy. For me the negatives outweigh the positives. Going to the theatre is expensive and it is a treat, and quite frankly I am not going to spend my money in places were I don't feel my access needs are treated with respect and dignity.

Photos