Strangers On A Train & The Gielgud Theatre

Welcome back to Access London and Thank You once again for helping to support Access for All to the Arts. Next month sees the opening of 'Strangers On A Train' at the Gielgud Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue.

"Two strangers. One conversation. The perfect murder. A seemingly innocent conversation soon turns into a nightmarish and dangerous reality for Guy Haines when he meets Charles Bruno on a train journey. Ahead lies a lethal nightmare of blackmail and psychological torment that threatens to cost Guy his career, his marriage and his sanity. His choice: to kill, or to be framed for a murder he didn't commit. Get on board for the West End's most gripping new thriller, as the classic Strangers on a Train opens at the Gielgud Theatre. Written by Craig Warner and based on Patricia Highsmith's acclaimed novel, inspiration for Alfred Hitchcock's legendary movie, this new stage production stars, Laurence Fox (Guy), Jack Huston (Bruno), Christian McKay (Gerard), Miranda Raison (Anne), Imogen Stubbs (Elsie) and MyAnna Buring (Miriam)."

Access Information: The Access entrance to the auditorium is located through the third side EXIT door on Rupert Street (alongside the theatre). Ask a member of staff at the main entrance to open this for you. There is one 12cm step up into the theatre at this entrance. For wheelchair and scooter users, and those who cannot manage the step, ask a member of staff for the ramp to be placed over this (this is usually done automatically anyway). There is step free Access to row B in the Dress Circle. Seats B5 and B30 can be removed to provide 2 spaces for wheelchair users, with a companion seat next to them. These seats can also be used as transfer seats and for those who cannot manage steps. From here there is 1 step between each row. You cannot see a very small part of the stage from the angle of seats B5 and B30 because of a safety rail in front of Row A. It isn't much of a restriction and shouldn't disturb the enjoyment of the performance.

There is an infra-red system in the auditorium with 12 headsets available – Free hire upon production of ID. Please collect these from foyer kiosk or ask your companion to do so if you cannot manage steps. You will be asked to sign a receipt. It is advised that you check the availability of the headsets before booking, please call 0844 482 5137. Assistance dogs are allowed into the auditorium or alternatively staff are happy to dog sit during the performance. Please let the box office know of your requirements at time of booking as only a limited number of dogs can be in the building for any one performance. There is an adapted toilet in the Foyer bar that can be reached by a side corridor from the Dress Circle. The Foyer bar is step free from the Dress Circle. DFT have a dedicated Access staff member for each performance, so if you have any questions, they should be happy to help.

'Strangers On A Train' opens at The Gielgud on 2nd November and runs until 22nd February 2014. For Access bookings, including discounted seats for those with a disability and a companion, please call the Access line on 0844 482 5137. This will go to DFT's main number, please select the option for The Gielgud and you will then be put through directly to the box office onsite.

Chariots of Fire @ The Gielgud Theatre

Welcome back to Access London and Thank You once again for helping to support Access for All to the Arts.

Chariots of Fire: "Adapted from the legendary Oscar-winning movie, this spectacular and ingenious retelling of Eric Liddell's and Harold Abrahams' quest to become the fastest men on earth is an electrifying and immensely moving tale of two men's rivalry, and their unwavering determination to conquer the world in the face of prejudice, immovable beliefs and overwhelming odds. Featuring the original, hugely iconic Vangelis score and a magnificent ensemble cast, Chariots of Fire brings alive the incredible true story of two British athletes whose honour, sacrifice and courage brought them glory and immortality on the greatest sporting stage of all." Chariots of Fire is 'running' at the Gielgud Theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue, until the 2nd February 2013. Performances are on Monday-Saturday evenings at 7.45pm and Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 3.00pm. Please note that there will be some changes to the performance schedule over the Christmas and new year period. To see the schedule for this time visit The Gielgud Theatre Website For Country, For Honour, Forever.

Access Information: If you are a wheelchair or scooter user, just notify someone at the front of the theatre upon arrival and a side Exit door will be opened for you on Rupert Street (third door along). There is one step at this door but there is ramp that can be placed over it to allow for access. There is step-free access to the foyer bar where there is also an accessible WC. There are 2 dedicated wheelchair spaces in the dress circle (at either end of row B). Alternatively, if you can transfer, seats B5 and B30 in the dress circle are step-free. The theatre has an infra-red system with 12 headsets that can be borrowed from the foyer - note that a receipt must be signed for the use of these upon presenting ID. Assistance dogs are allowed into the auditorium, alternatively, staff can sit with the dog during the performance. Everyone at the theatre is extremely helpful and has great disability awareness. Please be aware that strobe lighting and a starting pistol are used during this production.

Discounted Access tickets are available to those with a disability and a companion (depending on availability at each performance). To book Access tickets for Chariots of Fire, please call Delfont Mackintosh Theatres Access line on 0844 482 5137 and select the option for the Gielgud Theatre. This takes you directly through to the box office at the theatre.

The Ladykillers @ The Gielgud

Welcome back to Access London and Thank You once again for your continued support for disabled access to the arts in London.

The Ladykillers opened at The Gielgud Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue last month. Based on the celebrated Ealing comedy, it is a new adaption by Graham Linehan (Father Ted) and directed by Sean Foley (The Play What I Wrote).

"THE LADYKILLERS is a classic black comedy; a sweet little old lady, alone in her house, is pitted against a gang of criminal misfits who will stop at nothing...

Posing as amateur musicians, Professor Marcus and his gang rent rooms in the lopsided house of sweet but strict Mrs Wilberforce. The villains plot to involve her, unwittingly, in Marcus’ brilliantly conceived heist job. The police are left stumped but Mrs Wilberforce becomes wise to their ruse and Marcus concludes that there is only one way to keep the old lady quiet. With only her parrot, General Gordon, to help her, Mrs W. is alone with five desperate men. But who will be forced to face the music?"

Booking has now extended until the 14th April 2012. To book Access tickets to The Ladykillers, call the dedicated Delfont Mackintosh Theatres Access line on 0844 482 5137 - follow the options to The Gielgud Theatre and you will be connected directly with the theatre box office. Access rates and concessions are available to those with disabilities and a companion/carer.

For all other ticket types, you can book online HERE

If you are a wheelchair or scooter user, just notify someone at the front of the theatre upon arrival and a side Exit door will be opened for you on Rupert Street (third door along). There is one step at this door but there is ramp that can be placed over it to allow for access. There is step-free access to the foyer bar where there is also an accessible WC.

There are 2 dedicated wheelchair spaces in the dress circle (at either end of row B). Alternatively, if you can transfer, seats B5 and B30 in the dress circle are step-free. The theatre has an infra-red system with 12 headsets that can be borrowed from the foyer - note that a receipt must be signed for the use of these upon presenting ID. Assistance dogs are allowed into the auditorium, alternatively, staff can sit with the dog during the performance. Everyone at the theatre is extremely helpful and has great disability awareness.


COMING SOON: Jersey Boys, Billy Elliot, Royal Albert Hall update

The Lyric Theatre - Shaftesbury Avenue

Welcome back to Access London and Thank You once again for continuing to support disabled access to the arts in London.

The Lyric Theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, is the current home of the Michael Jackson and Jackson 5 musical Thriller Live! Based on the career of the late pop star, the show includes many of his greatest hits, brought to the stage by singers and dancers - it also includes video footage and special effects.

If you are a wheelchair or scooter user, the theatre can be accessed via a side exit door on Shaftesbury Avenue - simply let someone know at the front of the theatre and they will open the doors for you. You should be aware that there is a small (2-3 inch) ridge up into this entrance but staff are happy to help navigate up it. If you can manage a small amount of steps, the foyer can be accessed via 3 steps at the front of the theatre. From here there is level access into the dress circle. All steps inside the auditorium are highlighted.

If you cannot manage any steps, then the side exit door on Shaftesbury Avenue will lead you straight into a room that can store wheelchairs or scooters if you can transfer and also has an accessible WC. From here, Boxes C, D and E are accessible with level access. Box E is the largest and can accommodate 1-2 wheelchairs or scooters and a guest whilst Boxes C and D can each accommodate 1 wheelchair or scooter and a guest. All of the Boxes have a slightly restricted view, being side on to the stage, but not greatly so.

The Lyric has an infra-red hearing system with 5 headsets available to use. Assistance dogs are allowed into the auditorium (maximum of 2 dogs per performance) but you need to either book a transfer seat in the dress circle or one of the boxes. There are no bars that have completely level access but staff are happy to help collect interval drinks.

To book Access Tickets to Thriller Live!, please call: 0844 412 4648 (via SEE Tickets Access Line) - discounted Access rates are available for people with disabilities and a companion/carer. To book all other ticket types, please call: 0844 482 9674.


Thank You to Everyone who has sent in messages to Access London over the past few days - I will reply to all over the next couple of days as I've been away for the weekend to see Three Phantoms perform in Plymouth. A fabulous concert and unfortunately the last one for 2011. There is a chance to see the show in February in Chichester and I'd encourage anyone that is available then to go and watch. To book tickets and for Access information, see The Chichester Festival Theatre Website

Lastly, I'm happy to answer (to the best I can) any Access questions to theatres and venues posted about on Access London but for questions on interviews with cast members, it would be best for you to contact them directly. Many of the people interviewed on Access London have Twitter accounts so it may be best to start there. These include the questions left over the weekend for: Stephen John Davis @stephenjdavis1 , Rebecca Caine @RebeccaCaine and Sofia Escobar @sofia_escobar

Priscilla Queen of the Desert & Cast Interview with Steven Cleverley

Welcome back to Access London and Thank You once again for supporting disability access and awareness in the Capital.

Today's post is dedicated to the hugely popular and entertaining show that is Priscilla! Performed at The Palace Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, the show is a bright, colourful night out!

Unfortunately, The Priscilla bus is shutting its doors and leaving The Palace at the end of the year so if you haven't already seen the show, or want to see it again, make sure you book tickets soon!

For wheelchair and scooter users there is a shallow (about 3cm) step into the theatre though an Exit door on Shaftesbury Avenue - there is a ramp available to get up this also. Simply go to the front of the theatre and someone from FOH will escort you around to the entrance and assist you. This entrance leads into the back of the stalls (this area also has an accessible WC). There is space for 2 wheelchairs at the back of the stalls, with an adjacent companion seat. Alternatively, if you can transfer, you can book any aisle seat in the stalls. The theatre can store up to 5 wheelchairs and 1 scooter per performance.

Assistance dogs are allowed into the auditorium or staff can sit them during the performance (maximum of 4 dogs per performance). There is also an induction loop system at The Palace. There is no step-free access to a bar but staff are happy to go and fetch drinks for you at the interval - I found all staff to be amazingly helpful at The Palace and would like to send out a big Thank You to all.

To book Access tickets to see Priscilla, please call: 0844 412 4648 (current Access price is £25.00 per ticket for disabled person and 1 companion, seated in the stalls!). For all other ticket types, please call: 0844 755 0016.


Access London had the opportunity to speak with one of the cast members recently and would like to say a huge Thank You to Steven Cleverley for taking time out to chat. Here's what he had to say....

AL: When did you first become involved with the show?
SC: I've been doing the show now for two and a half years, I was in the original London cast and went through the whole rehearsal process. We did 6 weeks at the rehearsal space, called Jerwood Space, which is based over in London Bridge. So, we were there for 6 weeks with that and then we came into the theatre and did tech and everything, so I've been doing it for quite a long time.
It's nice because we're all like a family, we don't just come in and do our job, we spend a lot of time with one another - it is your extended family. We all get along well and have lots of laughs backstage.

AL: What was the audition process like?
SC: I got the audition through my agent. I'd just finished Le Cage Aux Folles so they said 'oh we think you'd be perfect for this' and I knew the casting director and she knew I had done drag before. So I went along to the audition process and I think I went to about 9 or 10 auditions. It was a really long process, especially because they were doing an original cast. I got offered the job in the August and then it took 6 months for the actual job to start. Obviously the creative team had to come over from Australia and it's not like it's round the corner so they came for long stints at a time, about 3 months.
It was actually quite painful trying to find out if I'd got it or not - I was sat at home waiting for the phone to ring - I couldn't believe it when I got the phone call!

AL: Did you realise at the time it would be such a long process for the production to start?
SC: Well the phone did ring at one point and they asked me to come back and read for....because I cover one of the parts in the show, Miss Understanding, so they called me back and said 'we'd really like you to come in and go through the script and do the song again'. From then until getting the phone call, I think it was about 4 or 5 weeks.

AL: You play more than one role in the show?
SC: Yeah I play Farrah and Young Bernadette

AL: What's it like playing more than one part?
SC: Well the thing is, everyone has their own little feature bits and then obviously you do your bits in the ensemble. We are always busy changing...I go from being a girl, being a drag queen, to being a man, then I go to being a paintbrush and things like that. And then in the interval I've got 15 minutes to get my drag make-up back on and go on again to play Young Bernadette and then I'm back to being a boy but I've still got a full face of make-up - so I keep my head down and have sunglasses on to hide the drag make-up.

AL: So with that many extreme costume changes, I assume it's all a bit manic?
SC: Yeah, it's crazy! The fastest change I do is I've got about a minute to get out of a cupcake and into a drag casino outfit and then come on - and I've got to be there as I've got a line. When we first started I was thinking, 'I'm never going to make this' and then now I just sort of walk round the back really breezy.

AL: Do you have a favourite costume?
SC: Young Bernadette, it's a big, spectacular costume - it's massive and lots of feathers.

AL: Any favourite songs in the show?
SC: My favourite is actually MacArthur Park when we're all dressed up as cupcakes because you look out to the audience and everyone's happy, smiling - that's probably my favourite bit.

AL: How do you prepare before a show?
SC: Normally, in our dressing room, I share with two of the boys, we've got our music playing very loud and having a laugh. I'm going onstage as an over the top drag queen - I've not really got to think about what I'm doing, it comes naturally. It is hard to wind down after, we go for a drink or like tonight I've got to go and do a gig afterwards. It's such a party atmosphere in a show like this, you can't often just go home.

AL: What's The Palace like as a theatre to perform in?
SC: It's great! I mean this building has got so much history with the shows that have been here. I mean, Les Mis was here for years and I remember coming here to watch it with a school trip and we went onto the stage to get shown the set - to think however many years later I am actually performing on that same stage is crazy!

AL: If you could play any part in any musical, what would it be?
SC: I would love to be a drag Velma Kelly in Chicago - do something like that, just because it's so camp! I've always wanted to be in Cats, that was the kind of show that got me into dancing, I loved it.

AL: What would you say to people that haven't seen the show yet?
SC: I think they should see it because it's a really feel good show and there's not many productions like this around. You can walk in here having had a miserable day and just forget about it all for 2 and a half hours - it's a really fun night out. We see people in the audience clapping and dancing away - I think London needs that right now.

AL: Lastly, if you could be in a production anywhere in the world, where would it be?
SC: Well I'd love to go over to Broadway and do something. I'd also like to work in Germany - my friend works there in Starlight Express and I've visited the country a lot - Actually, I'd love to do Starlight Express over there.

AL: Can you skate?
SC: No, not very well, but I could do skate school. I'd probably fail though, I'm so clumsy!


A huge Thank You once again to Steven for answering those questions. Remember, if you want to see the show, it closes on 31 December 2011, so get booking!!



COMING NEXT: More from Phantom 25 & Interviews
COMING SOON: Billy Elliot, Globe Tours and Exhibition, 39 Steps

The Rainforest Cafe - Part 1

Welcome back to Access London everyone. Thanks once again for your continued support, it really does help to spread the word about better access for those with disabilities in London.

Today's post is on The Rainforest Cafe - a really fun, tropical rainforest themed restaurant in the heart of the urban rainforest of London. The Rainforest Cafe can be found on Shaftesbury Avenue, just behind the Trocadero Centre. This entrance leads straight into the Cafe's shop, a great place to visit whether you are going to be dining there or not: with a crocodile and waterfall to your right upon entering and parrots flying above your head, this is a fantastic place to pop into when in Theatreland.

The cafe itself is beneath street level, down a flight of stairs. However, it can also be accessed by an alternative, disbaled access entrance. I would advise booking or ringing the Cafe in advance so that you can be met by a member of staff who can then take you around to the accessible entrance. This entrance needs to be accessed from the front of the Trocadero and a guide will take you round there. Once inside the Trocadero you will be guided through a series of lifts and passages until you reach the lower ground level of the cafe. On this level, you will be greeted by the Cafe's Tropical Experience: fish tanks, jungle, animatronic apes, parrots, butterflies, lizards, streams, waterfalls, frogs and the occasional thunderstorm!

The staff are all extremely helpful at the Cafe and can even tell you the names of the tropical friends that dine beside you. The menu is fairly vast and I would definitely recommend trying one of the cocktails here (non-alcoholic ones are available for younger explorers). The cafe is child and group friendly (although please be aware that they can only accommodate 2 wheelchair/scooter users at any one time due to Health and Safety Laws). There are accessible toilets on the lower level too. The menu itself is well set out, giving you information on vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-free and low calorie options.

As mentioned above, every 30 minutes or so, the cafe recreates a Rainforest Thunderstorm with sound effects and lightening - but don't worry, you won't need your umbrella!

This is a fun and entertaining night out for the whole family, groups and couples and so centrally located that it makes the perfect location for a late afternoon dinner pre-theatre.

Here is some video I took when visiting.



To make a reservation at The Rainforest Cafe and/or to discuss Access arrangements, please call: 020 7434 3111. You can also visit their website to check out the exciting menu at: href="http://www.therainforestcafe.co.uk/">

Please check back tomorrow as Access London has an exclusive interview with the Marketing Manager from The Rainforest Cafe. Feel free to leave a comment and follow the blog.

COMING NEXT: Rainforest Cafe Part 2
COMING SOON: Love Never Dies and The National Gallery