Overview

I attended the 'Dear Europe' event organised by the National Theatre of Scotland on the day that we were supposed to Brexit. It was a mix of celebration and sadness of cultures and identities and views about the possible future for all of us and what it could hold. The venue was perfect for this event as it encapsulated changing identities; it was a huge old warehouse space transformed into an events space with several screens. I absolutely loved all of the performances but especially the multi-sensory 'Death Becomes Us' and 'Moving Through Shadows' 'Cadaver Police' and 'Second Citizen'. Staff were very welcoming and helpful both inside and outside the venue and I was made to feel just as much a part of the audience as everyone else free to immerse myself in the brilliant performances. There was also an adjacent bar (Acid Bar) which had a disabled toilet and a private car park with plenty of room was made available for us.

Transport & Parking

It could be difficult to get here by train or subway depending upon your disability as stations are about 10-14 minutes walk away. I came by car and was directed into a locked car-park manned by security adjacent to the venue. There was plenty of space and staff were very helpful, holding gates etc. As the complex is in an old industrial area, the ground around it is a bit uneven and bumpy, especially for me in my chair but they have ramped access to the hall through automatic doors and plenty of lovely staff to hold doors etc.

Access

As already mentioned the ground is a bit bumpy and uneven, however, access inside the venue itself was very good with lots of space to move around. I was assigned an assistant to take me to my seat which they had reserved for me and which was with everyone else at long benches and chairs. I felt this was really important at an event like this where audience participation was so central to the experience and while I know that this is not always possible and I appreciate every effort to make venues accessible and inclusive, it does make a difference to my overall experience if I feel part of the crowd. The venue is well-ramped and the only criticism I could give is that you have to go back outside to access the lift to take you upstairs and although this only added to the overall industrial feel of the experience for me and I liked it, it might be an issue for other people. The staff who accompanied me upstairs said that they are hoping to address this soon. I had an absolutely fantastic view of everything and could swing around to see different screens, stages etc. without blocking anyone else's view.

Toilets

Sorry, I was unable to check out the toilets as I had to leave sharpish and I meant to return the next day to take a photo but I couldn't make it. As the disabled toilet is in a modern bar and the rest of the access there was so good, I wouldn't anticipate many issues and I will make a point of going next time to update this review.

Staff

Both NTS and Galvanizers staff were lovely, helpful, welcoming and accessible if I needed them; I almost felt like a VIP and they struck just the right balance for me. They made the whole experience even better.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

I loved the conversion and the atmosphere in this fantastic venue; it had an underground air of excitement about it and this definitely enhanced all the performances. If I could improve anything it would be the location of the lift (although for me, as I said before, it as an added experience for this particular event) and if they could offer a smoother path outside that would be great too. I would definitely recommend it and I plan to return.

Photos