Tag Archives: theatre

Attractions, Days Out, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Scooters Accessible Attractions: Apollo Victoria Theatre

Quingo Scooters are bringing you yet another great British attraction in England’s capital this week as part of our Accessible Attractions series. This one is for theatre fans…

QUINGO SCOOTERS ACCESSIBLE ATTRACTIONS: APOLLO VICTORIA THEATRE 2
Editorial credit: Zabotnova Inna / Shutterstock.com

The Apollo Victoria Theatre

The Apollo Victoria Theatre is a West End theatre within the Westminster district of London. The theatre opened in 1930 as a cinema and variety theatre; it then became a venue for musical theatre beginning with The Sound of Music in 1981, including Starlight Express which ran from 1984 to 2002. The theatre is now the home of the award-winning musical Wicked, which has wowed audiences at the venue for 11 years.

Wicked

First opening on Broadway in 2003, and at The Apollo Victoria Theatre in 2006, Wicked has achieved huge success, and continues to impress critics and audiences. It quickly picked up three Tony Awards and even a Grammy for Best Musical Show Album. The show is adapted from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, Wicked, is the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, and how they became known as the most famous witches of Oz.

The music and lyrics were produced by the talented musical theatre legend Stephen Schwartz, his most notable works being Godspell, Pippin, Children of Eden and The Baker’s Wife. Schwartz’ career has spanned across theatre and film, with screen credits including The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas and the song ‘When You Believe’ from The Prince of Egypt.

The show features a host of famous musical theatre stars. Idina Menzel, Kerry Ellis, Rachel Tucker, Willemijn Verkaik and Emma Hatton have all donned the black hat of Elphaba. Glinda has been played by stars including Kristin Chenoweth, Megan Hilty, Dianne Pilkington, Annaleigh Ashford and Gina Beck.

Ticket prices and opening times

Wicked is shown Monday through to Saturday at 7.30pm; on Wednesday and Saturday there are additional shows at 2.30pm. The theatre closes on Sundays.

Ticket prices range from £19.50 to £125 depending on the seats that are chosen. Each has an individual booking fee, which can be found on the ‘Booking Fees’ page here.

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Getting there

The Apollo Victoria Theatre is located very close to Victoria Station in the heart of Victoria, London. The theatre is close to other well-known attractions such as Westminster Cathedral and a large number of shops. The theatre boasts great transport links to central London as well as the surrounding areas.

By tube or rail, the theatre is a short distance from Victoria Station, which has both underground links to the Victoria, District and Circle lines as well as National Rail links to the South East.

By bus, visitors can take the bus from Victoria Station to and from local London areas, there are several bus services, which can be found here.

By car, visitors can access various meters on the roads surrounding the theatre, located on Allington Street, Bressenden Place and Carlisle Place. The standard tariff is usually £2 per hour, however due to the business, prices may differ and the area can become crowded. Alternatively, London Victoria car park is 6 minutes away from the theatre and is priced at £22 for the day.

For more information regarding travelling to the theatre, click here.

Accessibility

The accessible entrance to the theatre is via a platform lift at the Vauxhall Bridge Road entrance, this provides level access to the accessible toilets and foyer facilities. Before arriving, it is advised to contact the Front of House team to organise operation of the lift and to arrive between 30 and 45 minutes before the performance. The theatre has four accessible spaces, again booking is recommended as there is limited availability. There are limited parking facilities in Victoria and for those with a blue badge. The closest bays to the theatre are Grosvenor Gardens, Carlisle Place and further along Wilton Road. For more information regarding accessibility, click here.

About Quingo

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme, which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this, or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up-to-date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up-to-date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 308478.

Attractions, Days Out, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Accessible Attractions: Steven Joseph Theatre

Wherever you travel in the UK, you’ll be greeted by a treasure trove of fantastic cultural attractions which you can explore as a mobility scooter user. It’s hard to know where to check out first, so Quingo Scooters is putting together a guide to the UK’s most accessible attractions to help you decide.

We’re taking you on a trip to the seaside this week, as we head to the town of Scarborough. This North Yorkshire town is known for its golden sandy beaches, thrilling amusements and breath-taking historic ruins, but one of its highlights is undoubtedly the Steven Joseph Theatre.

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Take in a show

The Steven Joseph Theatre has served as one of Scarborough’s top cultural sites for decades. It was originally opened as a small ‘theatre in the round’ on the first floor of a public library in 1955 by actor Steven Joseph. It flourished but struggled to find a permanent home until the existing Steven Joseph Theatre was set up in an old Odeon cinema in 1996 and it has thrived ever since.

You can visit the Steven Joseph to take in a range of shows from kid’s pantos to gripping dramas. It has two stages, the first of which is ‘The Round Theatre;’ a unique circular space, where you can get a 360 degree view of all the action on stage. It also has ‘The McCarthy Theatre’ – a more traditional stage. Shows expected to come to the Steven Joseph this year include Little Voice, Grimm’s Tales, Cyrano and Charlie and the Light Fantastic, so you’re sure to find something for every member of the group.

If you check out the Steven Joseph Theatre website’s what’s on page, you can find a full list of its existing and upcoming productions, along with details on showing times and ticket prices. The Steven Joseph Theatre also boasts a shop, where you can pick up fantastic handcrafted items made by the finest local artisans. It also contains restaurant/bar space, where you can relax with a meal and a drink in the intermission, whilst waiting with baited breath for your show to commence once more.

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Accessible venue

The Steven Joseph is a great attraction for any mobility scooter user, as it is incredibly accessible. You can get to the Steven Joseph Theatre with little fuss, as it is situated a few minutes away from Scarborough train station. There are accessible parking bays located on nearby Albemarle Crescent, while if you’re a blue badge holder, you can park for free on Hannover Road just 20 metres away from the theatre. Check out the website’s visiting us page to find more information on the different ways of getting there.

You will be able to navigate your way around the Steven Joseph Theatre with ease. The building is accessible by ramp, which is located on the right side of its entrance. You can then take another ramp from the entrance up to the box office, allowing you to book tickets to whatever show takes your fancy. There are also accessible toilets dotted around the Steven Joseph Theatre.

The Theatre is just as accessible inside as it is outside. There are lifts to the shop, restaurant/bar and both The Round Theatre and The McCarthy Theatre. There are accessible seats in both theatres, located close to the lifts. You can also request accessible seating on the front row of both theatres by contacting staff at least 24 hours before you arrive. Visit the website’s access page, to find out more about accessibility at the Steven Joseph Theatre.

About Quingo

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 308478.

Attractions, Days Out, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Accessible Attractions: West Yorkshire Playhouse

Quingo Scooters encourages users to explore the world around them on their mobility scooters, so they can make the most of the world around them. In our series of articles, we’ve been revealing some of the UK’s top accessible attractions which are open to mobility scooter users and guarantee a great day out.

Today, we’re heading up to God’s own country Yorkshire to take in some culture. We’re sharing with you the West Yorkshire Playhouse, based in Leeds, which is one of the UK’s most accessible venues.

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West Yorkshire Playhouse

The West Yorkshire Playhouse is a world-class theatre. It is best known for displaying compelling stage productions, as well as serving as a creative hub for regional actors, directors and other theatre industry personnel. The West Yorkshire Playhouse has two separate theatres for you to visit…

  • Quarry Theatre: This amphitheatre-style space seats 750 people and attracts top regional productions for your viewing pleasure. It is soon to be hosting Babe the Sheep Pig, a play inspired by the Oscar winning film of the same name, from 15th to 18th February 2017.
  • Courtyard Theatre: Set in a rectangular shape, this space features lower and upper galleries, with accessible entrances at the back. It is currently showing a production of the classic Bernard Shaw work Pygmalion, which explores class identity, from 7th to 25th February 2017.

The West Yorkshire Playhouse also boasts a range of other attractions for you to explore. This includes a bar, a restaurant and the Priestley Room, a quiet space to go in intervals located in easy reach of the bar and restaurant. The venue also holds various events for you to check out, like the Transform Festival in April, where independent productions are performed across Leeds, celebrating local talent.

Visit the ‘What’s On’ section of West Yorkshire Playhouse’s website, to find out the ticket prices and showing times, for your production. Remember, however, that a £1.75 surcharge will apply to the price, but there are discounts for people aged under 16 or over 60, as well as NUS card and Leeds City Card holders. You can book tickets via the Playhouse’s Box Office, which is open between 9am and 5pm. The Box Office can be contacted via phone, at 0113 213 7700 or by email at [email protected].

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Accessibility

The West Yorkshire Playhouse is fully accessible. You’ll find it around 20 minutes away from the centrally located Leeds Train Station. The venue is based opposite the Quarry Hill Bus Station and is also easily accessible by car. It has a car park which, as a Blue Badge holder, you can use for free, and the spaces are right outside the main entrance. Visit the website’s ‘Finding Us’ section to learn more.

Discover just how accessible the West Yorkshire Playhouse is by downloading the ‘Open to Everyone’ document, available on the ‘Access’ section of its website. The West Yorkshire Playhouse has level access up from the car park, while its Box Office includes a lowered counter, making it easy for you to book tickets. The accommodating Box Office staff will be only too happy to fulfil your request for aisle or entrance level seats whenever possible, when you book your tickets at the Playhouse.

Both the Playhouse’s theatres feature spaces for mobility scooter users and the venue’s front of house team are happy to help you reach your seat. The West Yorkshire Playhouse also features wide lifts enabling access to all floors, as well as automatic doors and spacious areas e.g. the restaurants, with broad accessible routes. There are also accessible toilets around the building, as well as moveable tables and chairs in the bar and restaurant areas, promoting comfort. At the West Yorkshire Playhouse, you can even pre-order your interval drinks to avoid the busy queues that often build up at these times.

Share your accessible attraction with Quingo!

If you’ve been to visit any great accessible places on your Quingo or would like us to write about a particular place you have visited, we’d be delighted to hear from you! You can email your stories, recommendations and pictures by filling out the contact form on our website and we’ll feature them on our blog.

About Quingo

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 308478.

Attractions, Days Out, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Accessible Attractions: Watershed, Bristol

Quingo Scooters always encourages users to get out and about to visit interesting or unusual places on their mobility scooters, especially to places which you didn’t think were accessible enough. Over our series of blog posts we’ve been sharing with you some extremely accessible attractions to explore on your mobility scooter.

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Watershed

Today we’re checking out the ‘leading film culture and digital media centre in the South West’. Bristol’s Watershed sits in what was once a derelict harbourside area, and is now a popular media destination. Watershed is a buzzing multi-arts venue, comprising of three cinemas (one of which is an arthouse cinema), studios and a warehouse events space overlooking the water.  The fully accessible venue also hosts a monthly ‘Deaf Conversations about Film Club’, which includes a signed introduction, a descriptive subtitled screening and a signed discussion afterwards.

What’s on?

Watershed has a vast variety of different films, Q&A’S, discussion groups and film festival highlights from around the world. Some current highlights include:

  • Snowden – This film captures the story of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Directed by Oliver Stone, Snowden is a thrilling dramatic explanation of international surveillance. This will run at various times from 9th-22nd December, and more information can be found here.
  • Conversations About Cinema – These talks will usually be held after a specific film, which will be the topic of discussion. A really informal and laid back chat about the film you’ve just watched, Conversations About Cinema is held in the café and bar area of Watershed. You also receive 10% off any drinks you purchase upon presenting your cinema ticket. More information on upcoming talks can be found here.
  • The Unknown Girl – Directed by the two-time Cannes Palme d’Or winners the Dardennes brothers (Two Days, One Night and The Kid with the Bike), The Unknown Girl tells the story of a doctor seeking to uncover the truth behind the mysterious death of an unidentified caller. Find out when the film is showing here.

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Accessibility

Watershed is a fully accessible building, especially adapted to make your visit as easy as possible. The main entrance and Box Office are located on the ground floor, which is accessed by a ramp and electronically assisted door.

All of the cinemas are accessible, and all have induction loops if required. The café and bar are large and spacious, and the events spaces are too. The different parts of Watershed are accessed via a lift located in the main entrance foyer.

On the first floor you’ll find an accessible toilet, level access to the front of cinemas 1, 2 and 3 and lifts to the back of cinemas 1 and 3. More information about accessibility at the Watershed can be found on its dedicated website page.

Share your accessible attraction with Quingo!

If you’ve been to visit any great accessible places on your Quingo or would like us to write about a particular place you have visited, we’d be delighted to hear from you! You can email your stories, recommendations and pictures by filling out the contact form on our website and we’ll feature them on our blog.

About Quingo

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 308478.

Attractions, Days Out, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Accessible Attractions: Royal Shakespeare Theatre

Quingo Scooters are always encouraging users to get out and about to visit interesting or unusual places on their mobility scooters, especially places that you didn’t think were accessible enough.

Over our series of blog posts we’ve been sharing with you some extremely accessible attractions to explore on your mobility scooter for a fantastic day out! This week we’re heading to Stratford-upon-Avon to step in to the world of Shakespeare.

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Royal Shakespeare Theatre

Dedicated to the English playwright, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre is owned by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Situated in Shakespeare’s birthplace, the theatre is located in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon beside the river Avon.

It seats over 1000 after undergoing a major renovation in November 2010, known as the Transformation project. Part of the renovation included creating a new thrust stage auditorium, designed to bring actors and audiences closer together. The distance of the furthest seat from the stage has been reduced from 27 metres to 15 metres.

The renovation included the creation of an array of public spaces, including a Riverside Café, Rooftop Restaurant and an observation tower. Part of the renovation also involved making the theatre fully accessible for the first time, and more comfortable for people with disabilities. There are also other Royal Shakespeare Theatres at other locations, including London and the USA and Canada.

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What’s on?

As expected, the theatre is home to many of Shakespeare’s works. The plays are on for a selected period of time and are in rotation so that more of his works can be performed. Some current highlights include:

  • Cymbeline – 31st October to 17th December 2016
  • King Lear – 10 November to 23rd December 2016
  • Much Ado About Nothing 9th December 2016  to 18th March 2017

There are also some other performances that aren’t to be missed:

  • Snow in Midsummer by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig – 23rd February to 25th March 2017
  • The Hypocrite by Richard Bean – 31st March to 29th April 2017
  • Salome by Oscar Wilde – 2nd June to 6th September 2017

You can discover all of the performances by going to the what’s on section of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre website.

Accessibility  

The renovation in 2010 created three times as many dedicated mobility scooter and wheelchair spaces than the previous auditorium. When booking your tickets, make the Box Office aware that you require a dedicated accessible space. You can also request an audio described or captioned performance too if required.

There is a large lift to all levels of the theatre, and these are fully accessible to mobility scooter users. There are seven Blue Badge Holder parking bays on Waterside which is directly outside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, and there are ten bays on Chapel Lane which is the road opposite.

More access information is available on the Royal Shakespeare Theatre website.

Share your accessible attraction with Quingo!

If you’ve been to visit any great accessible places on your Quingo or would like us to write about a particular place you have visited, we’d be delighted to hear from you! You can email your stories, recommendations and pictures by filling out the contact form on our website and we’ll feature them on our blog.

About Quingo

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 308478.