Access

Access at Capital Theatres

Capital Theatres aims to be accessible to all and we are committed to making your visit to our theatres as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

We offer a range of accessible services including Audio Description, Touch Tours, British Sign Language Interpretation, Captioning, and Relaxed Performances.

To find upcoming access performances, use the filter options on the What's On section of our website, or click the 'access' tab on a show page.

Access users can choose to receive 50% off the price of their ticket, and 50% off essential companion tickets, subject to availability. 

How to book

You can book access performances and services:

IN PERSON At the Festival Theatre (Mon to Sat, 10am to 4pm or until curtain up on performance days) or at The Studio 30 minutes before curtain up.

BY PHONE 0131 529 6000 (Mon to Sat, 11am to 3pm)

EMAIL bookings@capitaltheatres.com

ONLINE

Complete the Access Form (more information below). We will email you when we have processed your form, please allow up to 3 working days.

Once you have received confirmation that we have processed your form, here is how to book online:

- Click “Login” in the top right of the screen (scroll up to the top of the page to see the login sign)

- Enter your email address and password, or if this is your first time login in online, enter your email and click ‘reset here’ to set up your password. 

- Once you are logged in, click “What’s On” to browse all events, or “Find Tickets” to search for a specific event 

- Select your event, click “Book Tickets” and choose your seats from the seating plan. Click “continue” 

- Choose the relevant access concession. Discount will be applied at checkout. Click “continue”

- If you wish to purchase TicketPlan ticket protection, select the number of tickets and click “Add to basket.” If you don’t wish to purchase it, scroll down and click “Continue to basket” 

- You are now ready to checkout

You can book access tickets online for yourself and for an essential companion. For bookings where more than 1 person has access requirements, please book by phone or in person.

Access Form

Completing this short form will enable you: 

- to get more appropriate services during your visit 

- to receive you information about upcoming access performances (if you opt in to receiving information)

- to book online  

If you require assistance in completing this form or require the form in an alternative format please call 0131 529 6000 or email bookings@capitaltheatres.com

Audio Description and Touch Tours

Many of the shows that come to Capital Theatres provide Audio Described performances for those who are visually impaired. This service uses the Sennheiser infrared system such that you can utilise one of our headsets to have the visual elements of the performance described to you throughout.

In conjunction with the Audio Description performances, we also offer touch tours beforehand such that you can touch various elements of the set, props and costumes, to further contextualise the performance.

Use the Audio Description filter on the What's on page to find relevant performance times.

British Sign Language Interpretation

We generally present sign language interpreted performances on Saturday matinees of week long shows, with the interpreter standing at the front of the stage such that deaf or hard of hearing audience members can follow the spoken narrative alongside the visual elements of the performance.

Seats in the stalls generally provide the best view of the BSL interpreter, and box office can advise of this further in your booking process.

Use the BSL - British Sign Language filter on the What's on page to find relevant performance times.

Captioning

Captioned performances generally take place on Thursday evenings of week long shows and they work similarly to subtitles on a film, with caption screens on either side of the stage with the text appearing as its being spoken by the performers. This function aids deaf or hard of hearing audience members to follow the the spoken narrative alongside the visual elements of the performance.

Use the Captioned filter on the What's on page to find relevant performance times.

Relaxed Performances

Some of our key associate companies including Scottish Ballet, Scottish Opera and the annual Pantomime create relaxed performances of their large scale productions.

These performances are designed to make you feel welcome, relaxed and well-supported, we’ll have lots of trained staff on hand to help with any access needs, anyone can feel free to make noise and move around the auditorium, we’ll keep the lights on, but dimmed to reduce anxiety, and we’ll provide break out spaces with a live stream of the show so that if people feel the need to leave the auditorium they won’t miss the action.

Use the Relaxed Performances filter on the What's on page to find performances.

After the Show

Our Front of House staff will be happy to order a taxi after the performance for those with mobility issues.

General

Artlink (Edinburgh and the Lothians) provide a volunteer companion service for people who have difficulty in attending performances. For details please telephone 0131 229 3555 (Mon - Fri).

Braille, audio and large text versions of our brochure are available. Please contact the marketing department on 0131 662 1112 to be added to the mailing list.

BSL and audio interpretations are now available on certain parts of our website. Audio versions of our website are made possible by Lothiansound.