Access

Accessing The Studio

Capital Theatres aim 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 performances (Audio Description, British Sign Language Interpreted, Captioned and Touch Tours) on the majority of our shows. Use the filter on the What's on to find Access performances.

Arriving at The Studio

If you are arriving by car please note that there are double yellow lines on Potterrow directly outside the theatre. The road outside of The Studio is currently under construction, so please arrive with plenty of time and plan ahead. The Studio is fully accessible with lift access, which have voice synthesisers to assist visitors.

Full access is also available from the courtyard through the Festival Theatre stage door entrance, if you require any assistance please ask stage door

We have parking spaces in the courtyard of the Festival Theatre for patrons with accessible requirements, we also offer a drop off and pick up service. A space, for either service, can be booked in advance by calling Stage Door on 0131 662 1112. We will ask for your name, registration, phone number and which performance or event you are attending.  

At the Box Office

At all performances, there is a Box Office situated in the ground floor foyer. Tickets can also be booked by calling 0131 529 6000, online or by using Text relay on 18002 0131 529 6003. If you have any specific seating requirements please let the box office know when you book your tickets.

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.

Auditorium Features

The Studio seats don't have arm rests as these are fold-down bleachers style seats. The seating is banked, with wheelchair spaces and accessible seating available in row A. 

Wheelchair Users

The Studio is fully accessible for wheelchair users, with adjacent seats for companions.

Please let us know all of your requirements at the time of booking. To book a wheelchair space, please call the Box Office on 0131 529 6000; this will help us to prepare for your visit.

For extra assistance we offer the use of the theatre wheelchair. To pre-book a theatre wheelchair, please call 0131 622 8109.

Assistance Dogs

Assistance dogs are most welcome at our venues. We will be pleased to look after them during the performance if required. Water bowls are available at both theatres.

Accessible toilets

There are unisex accessible toilets on level one with emergency call buttons and handrails. 

Refreshments

The bar on Level 2 is fully accessible. Please note that our bar area does not serve refreshments after the performance; only before and during the interval.

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.