Customers with access needs who require a carer are entitled to one complimentary ticket with their ticket purchase. Please contact the Box Office either before or after purchasing your ticket to receive your complimentary carer ticket. Please email arts@essex.ac.uk or call 01206 873261.
Customers who require a wheelchair space are requested to let the Box Office know as far in advance of a production as possible. If you require step-free access or have other physical access needs which impact mobility, please also let the Box Office know in advance of your visit. Please email arts@essex.ac.uk or call 01206 873261.
The Lakeside Theatre is step-free accessible from our main entrance which is via the Lakeside Theatre Café on Square 5 of the University of Essex. We have an accessibility lift to all floors which means that patrons do not need to use the stairs to access the theatre, we just ask that patrons wait for our Front of House team to assist them in using the lift.
We have wheelchair and step-free spaces and seats at the back of the auditorium that are accessible by the lift and have easy access to the toilets. Please see our Access Route inside the Lakeside Theatre Café here. As we are a midsized venue, you can still have a great view of the stage from the back of the auditorium.
We recommend that all patrons visiting the Lakeside Theatre by car should park in The Valley Car Park which is the closest car park to the Lakeside Theatre. This car park has designated parking bays for Blue Badge holders and a large number of guest parking bays. There are no charges for parking on show nights, evenings and weekends. There is a distance of around 150 metres on a slight hill between the car park and the theatre entrance via the cafe, OR you may use the access route which takes you from The Valley Car Park to Square 5 via the Ivor Crewe Lecture Theatre Building (the big silver building), this route is flat and includes use of an accessibility lift. The Access Route can be found here.
There are two parking bays by the stage door which can be used by Blue Badge holders, however, while there is access to the auditorium and backstage from the stage door, there is no step-free access from the stage floor seating area to our Café or toilet facilities so we do not recommend this seating option, instead we suggest that patrons park in The Valley Car Park.
We welcome Assistance Dogs at all performances, please inform us when booking. Please email arts@essex.ac.uk or call 01206 873261.
An infrared enhancement system is available in the main auditorium at all performances. Our system is suitable for use with a hearing aid with a T setting.
Please let us know of any requirements you or anyone in your party may have. We will do all we can to make your visit as enjoyable as possible.
For more information about access at Lakeside Theatre please email arts@essex.ac.uk or call our office on 01206 873261.
