The Lion In Winter - Theatre Royal Haymarket

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

Today's post is dedicated to the Theatre Royal Haymarket and its current production, The Lion In Winter.

"A family Christmas becomes a family at war. Henry II, not so young as he was, invites his estranged wife Eleanor of Aquitane, and his three sons, Richard, Geoffrey and John, to spend the festive season with him, his mistress Princess Alais, and her brother, the young King Philip of France. Will Henry name who is to be his successor as King of England? Their yuletide celebration turns into a combat zone of deceit, betrayal, bitter power games and scabrous wit."

The Lion In Winter is the latest production to be directed by Trevor Nunn at the Haymarket this season and stars Joanna Lumley as Eleanor and Robert Lindsay as King Henry II.

The show runs until the 28 January 2012 with performances Monday - Saturday evenings (7.30pm) and matinees on Thursday and Saturday (2.30pm). To book Access tickets, please contact the box office directly on 020 7930 8800. For all other bookings, please call 0845 481 1870.

Theatre Royal Haymarket can be accessed via 3 steps up into the foyer (with many additional steps into the auditorium). If you are a wheelchair or scooter user or cannot manage stairs, please inform the box office when you book your tickets and then someone at the front of the theatre and one of the side exit doors on the Haymarket will be opened for you. If you are a scooter user, it is best to ask for the right side doors to be opened as this leads to the scooter storage area. Both sets of doors lead into the rear of the stalls where there is an accessible WC.

Once in the stalls, there is 1 space for a wheelchair user who cannot transfer at the back of the stalls. If you can transfer, you can book tickets for any aisle seat in the stalls (G1 and G21 have the most leg room). It should be noted that the stalls area does slope more steeply towards the stage than some other West End theatres but ushers are very helpful. There aren't any bars that are accessible but it can be arranged for an interval drink to be brought to you if you cannot manage stairs.

Assistance dogs are not allowed into the auditorium but they can be looked after by staff during the performance. Infra red headsets are available from the foyer (or ask an usher if you cannot manage stairs) - a £10, refundable deposit is required.

Blue badge parking is available on Whitcomb Street, Charles II Street and in St James' Square. Most bays have no time restrictions after 6.00pm but it is always best to check the signs at each one.

For more details on the show and theatre see the Theatre Royal Haymarket Website

Thank you to everyone who posted lovely comments on last week's birthday post for Access London and sent emails and tweets - the support is very much appreciated.


COMING SOON: Pippin at Menier Chocolate Factory, Jersey Boys, The Globe Exhibition