This is for people who use a hearing loop or hearing aid. Audio enhancement is permanently fitted in all our theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon - the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the Swan Theatre and The Other Place. It is also fitted at the Box Office, shop, cloakroom at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and at the welcome desk, Susie's Cafe Bar and the Box Office at The Other Place. Simply press your hearing aid to the 'T' position to be able to hear more clearly.

In audio described performances, commentary is delivered via radio headsets, available from the cloakroom desk in the theatre. For more details on captioned and audio described performances please see our Assisted Performances page.

Four seats are available in the front row seat of the stalls at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Swan Theatre for people who are visually impaired, Deaf, deafened or hard of hearing. You will need to tell the Box Office when you book. Seats are booked on a first come, first served basis. They are:

• Royal Shakespeare Theatre seats A25-28
• Swan Theatre seats A24-25 and A28-29

See our seating plans for more details.

There are eight wheelchair spaces in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, five wheelchair spaces in the Swan Theatre and two wheelchair spaces in the Other Place.

Seats are booked on a first come, first served basis.

If you would like to transfer from your wheelchair to a seat in any of our theatres you will be asked to leave your wheelchair in the foyer. You will then need to walk from the door of the theatre to your seat.

Depending on the location of your seat, this is an approximate distance of:

• 11 metres from the stalls foyer doors of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre to a step-free seat on row K. Your wheelchair will be stored at the cloakroom.
• 9 metres from the foyer of the Swan Theatre to the central seating block of the ground level. Your wheelchair will be stored next to the Swan lift in the foyer.
• 8 metres from the foyer / Susie's Bar at The Other Place to the front row of the seating block in the Studio. Your wheelchair will be stored at the Reception desk in Susie’s.

You will need to do this so that in an emergency we can safely get you back out of the building. If you are unable to walk from the foyer to your seat, please book a wheelchair space to watch the performance from your wheelchair.

Assistance dogs can be taken into the auditorium, but please tell the Box Office when booking your seat that you are bringing your dog. Alternatively you can leave your dog with a member of staff in the foyer but again please let us know.

If you have other access needs that are not answered here, or if you require large print or braille please contact us. We will listen to what you need and work with you to see what we can do. Our Box Office staff take pride in being able to help however they can.  

Please call 01789 331275 or email access@rsc.org.uk.

Access enquiries are processed every day on a first come, first served basis.  If you don't hear back from us immediately, please don't worry - it means that we are trying our best to find the right option for you.

Royal Shakespeare & Swan Theatres

• There are accessible toilets on each floor of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, including the Rooftop Restaurant, with alternating sides for transferring. 

• There is also an accessible toilet on the Upper Ground level of the Swan Theatre – available upon request when the Swan Theatre is closed.

• There is an ambulant toilet located opposite the Swan Cafe.

The Other Place

• There are accessible toilets on the ground floor and first floor of The Other Place, both of these toilets also have baby change facilities.

None of our toilets contain hoist systems

Changing Places toilets are available at the following locations, open every day with the use of a Radar key:

• Bell Court Shopping Centre (Ely Street / High Street / Wood Street) CV37 7JP, 10am-5pm.

• Stratford Leisure Centre, Bridgeway, CV37 6YX, 7am-10pm.

For every RSC show you can download the audio notes, which are produced and circulated to bookers for an audio-described performance. They give details of the characters, set and costume. If you require large print or braille please let us know by calling 01789 331275 or emailing access@rsc.org.uk