Overview

On this occasion I visited to see Lizzie the musical! (Highly recommend by the way!!) but I have been to both Southwark playhouse venues multiple times before and always had a very positive experience.

Transport & Parking

The location of the venue confuses my Google maps and it tends to get me a little lost down some side roads that are all no-through roads. Not being familiar with the area I do find it difficult to figure out where to park, but there is plenty of parking and once I am more familiar with the roads around the theatre this will be much easier.

Access

There is step free access into the venue and to all areas inside via a lift. Immediately as you enter there is a bar with a seating area so you could stop if needed. The box office is immediately ahead of you and has a lowered section of the counter for wheelchair users, or anyone who is not able to use the rest of the counter as it is rather high. The rest of that level becomes a balcony style, with seating available all the way around and access to the circle seating is on street level. There is both a lift and staircase to the downstairs area, where there is another bar area, bathrooms, and access to the stalls level of the auditorium. The theatre is configured in thrust, and the front row has step free access, with the ability to remove seats for those who do not wish to transfer from a wheelchair. There is then one step up to each row, with a total of 8 steps to the back row of the stalls. There was a T-Loop installed and signage around the venue to make people aware of this. There were signs around clearly displaying running times of each act and a detailed list of content warnings for the show.

Toilets

Bathrooms were on the basement level, clearly signposted. As you enter there is an accessible bathroom on the left and then you enter a large area with sinks in the centre and cubicles round the outside, and there is a seperate area around the corner for urinals which is signposted. The bathroom is just titled as ‘Toilets’ and has a sign on the outside stating what is inside ( x number of cubicles and x number of urinals).

Staff

Staff are always very sweet and helpful, they all work between both venues so it’s likely you’ll see a familiar face whichever venue you’re attending! They were very short staffed tonight with seemingly only 3 members of staff working throughout the venue but they handled it seamlessly. The ushers are volunteers, but when asking for some information about content warnings I found that the ushers had not been briefed at all. They did however go and get a manager to answer my questions.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

There was hand sanitizer dotted around the building.