Access London - Theatre Update

Welcome back to Access London and thank you for your continued support for this site and promoting disabled access and awareness.

Today's post is an update on some news from the West End theatre scene, including Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Love Never Dies, Phantom 25th and The Tempest.

Firstly is the slightly shocking and very disappointing news that Priscilla Queen of the Desert will be finishing its run at The Palace theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue at the end of the year! This well-loved show is upbeat, colourful, entertaining and has some great songs, cast and dancing in - the costumes are pretty fabulous too!

With a talented cast including Oliver Thornton, Richard Grieve, Don Gallagher, Mark Moraghan, Charlotte Riby, Gemma O'Duffy, Steve Cleverley, John Brannoch and many more, this is a night out not to be missed.....catch it before the Priscilla bus leaves the Palace at the end of 2011.

Access London will be watching Priscilla at the beginning of August and will post about it soon after, including a cast interview not to be missed.

The Palace theatre is accessible to those using a wheelchair or mobility scooter via a side entrance on Shaftesbury Avenue and then has level access into the back of the stalls. There is wheechair space at the back for those who cannot transfer otherwise, any aisle seat is transferable to in the stalls. There is also a disabled access toilet in the theatre.

To book Access Tickets please call: 0844 412 4648. For all general tickets, please call: 0844 412 4653.




Next is the news of another closure, this time for the Phantom of the Opera sequel, Love Never Dies, at The Adelphi Theatre on The Strand. Although this show opened to mixed reviews and went through some major rewrites in its first 6 months, it then established itself and has many loyal followers flocking to see it. With an outstanding cast led by Ramin Karimloo, Celia Graham and David Thaxton, Love Never Dies has some beautiful music and lyrics, great costumes, set and special effects, a host of circus style acrobatics and stunts and a heart-wrenching story with a dramatic ending.

I most definitely recommend a night out to see Love Never Dies before its disappointing closure on 27th August 2011. Access London recently had a two-post series on this show (in June) which included cast interviews, please scroll down to check these out. We will also be making one last trip to The Adelphi in August to see the show before its very premature closure.

The Adelphi is very accessible to those using a wheelchair or mobility scooter. The foyer has a fixed ramp up into it with an accessible toilet inside. From the foyer, there is level access into the back of the stalls which has a gentle rake down towards the stage. There is wheelchair space at the back otherwise, any aisle seat is transferable to.

To book Access tickets, please call: 0844 412 4648. For all general tickets, please call 0844 412 4653.




On a more positive note after all this talk of shows closing, Trevor Nunn's, The Tempest is opening at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 27th August 2011 and has a limited run until 29th October 2011. It stars the iconic Ralph Fiennes as Prospero. With such a limited run, this show is one not to be missed this Summer/Autumn.

Theatre Royal Haymarket is accessible for those using a wheelchair or mobility scooter through a side door on The Haymarket. From here, it is level access to the back of the stalls where there is space for wheelchairs. If you can transfer then any aisle seat in the stalls will be accessible for you.

To book Access tickets, please call: 020 7930 8800. For all general tickets, please call: 0845 481 1870.


Finally, this week has seen the long awaited for release of tickets to see the 25th anniversary concert for Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall. There are to be 3 concerts spread over the weekend of the 1st and 2nd October 2011. Access London will be writing about access to the Royal Albert Hall in a later post and will be seeing the concert itself on 1st October. The concert will have a 250 strong orchestra and cast being led by Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess.

With tickets in such great demand there have obviously been disappointments for those who missed out. However, the oringinal show at Her Majesty's Theatre on The Haymarket is one not to be missed. It has a fabulous current cast, led by John Owen Jones in the title role and Sofia Escobar as Christine Daae. Many believe the original is a hard one to beat and I happen to agree with them - stunning sets, costumes, music, lyrics, direction, story, cast and design leaves Phantom at Her Majesty's at the top if its game.

Her Majesty's theatre is accessible for those using a wheelchair or mobility sccoter via a side entrance on Charles II Street. This entrance leads past the accessible toilet and into the back of the stalls. There is wheelchair space here or alternatively, any aisle seat is transferable to.

Access London will be beginning its Phantom 25th celebrations shortly with weekly interviews with current, former and some origninal cast members so look out for our posts or check back regularly if you are a Phantom Phan!

To book Access tickets, please call: 0844 412 4648. For general tickets, please call: 0844 412 4653.




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