Overview

Richmond Theatre usually host weekly productions of plays or musicals by professional touring companies, as well as a traditional pantomime at Christmas. The theatre is in a beautiful Victorian building designed by Frank Matcham, the leading theatre architect of his day. The theatre step free access to the stalls.

Transport & Parking

I travelled by public transport. The nearest tube and train station is Richmond, which has a lift to the platforms. It's a busy station with frequent services from London and the South East. The theatre is on a road parallel to the main shopping street so there are also numerous buses that stop close by. From the train station it is about a five minute mainly level walk to the theatre. My personal favourite way of getting there from the train/tube station avoids the shoppers in the high street, is to turn left out of the station and cross the road at the first set of traffic lights. When you're on the other side of the road directly in front of you is a padestrianised alleyway called Old Station Passage. Continue along the alleyway and turn left at the end. There is then a railway bridge with a slight slope up and down. There are a couple of large, old building before the theatre.

Access

Only the stalls are step free. To the left of the stairs, leading to the main entrance to the theatre, there is a short, permanent ramp which leads to the accessible entrance. Once inside the accessible toilets, entire stalls and stalls bar are step free. There are wheelchair spaces at the back of the stalls. If you want to sit on the side where the accessible toilet is, you will need to book the higher number seats. The stall slope downwards to the front rows. The stall seating is laid out with a large central block and from Row H backwards there are also side seating in rows of four. I booked K4 which was an aisle seat in a smaller block of four. I had great view of the stage, see my photo, and when I visited I was luck that no one else sat in the row. Their website says that they have an induction loop in the auditorium and hearing dogs and guide dogs are welcome. They also occasionally have accessible performances.

Toilets

There was an accessible toilet at the back of the stalls. It does not have push button door but it is spacious, clean and has grab rails. Sorry I've forgotten if it has an emergency alarm. This toilet is next to one of the entrances to the stalls so if it's in use you are waiting in quite a narrow entranceway.

Staff

The staff were really helpful and welcoming. When I arrived I asked the lady on stairs if there was a step free entrance and she immediately took me there and rang the bell. Another members of staff opened the door almost immediately. Staff collecting the tickets and selling the ice cream in the interval were all very pleasant and helpful.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

I went to see Agatha Christie's Love From a Stranger, a psychological thriller and the production was excellent. I attended the matinee and I arrived early. On the other side of the theatre is Little Green, a small grassy area with some benches and it was very pleasant place to sit out. Next to it is Richmond Green, a larger grassy area. Richmond town centre has a lot of shops, restaurants and pubs. It has a nice waterfront onto the River Thames, with a couple of waterfront cafes/ pubs, which I haven't been to so unable to comment about their accessibility.

Photos