Venue access information (Fareham, Fareham LiveUpdated 17 days ago
Accessibility
Fareham Live prides itself on being a welcoming and accessible venue for all visitors. We will always endeavour to support all our patrons to access and enjoy our events. Below you can find a variety of information to help you plan your visit.
View the Fareham Live visual storybook here..
News article: What does accessibility mean to us?3 June 2024
Our Access Team
For access enquiries, please contact us via: [email protected]
At Fareham Live, we understand that access can mean so much more than ramps and lifts (though these, of course, are important). It is about representation and respect as much as anything else, and recognising that barriers to access can be logistical, physical, cultural, financial, and more.
Through ongoing training of staff, access performances, and our creative learning and community work, Fareham Live strives to be at the forefront of accessible and inclusive culture within the live entertainment industry.
Personal Assistant Policy
Fareham Live offers a complimentary essential companion ticket to all shows and workshops for patrons with a variety of access requirements (subject to availability). These can be booked by phone (0343 310 0022) by email ([email protected]) or in person at our Box Office (Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm).
Your account can be validated for complimentary essential companion tickets by providing one of the following documents:
Nimbus Access Card with +1 or +2 symbol
Proof of receipt of Attendance Allowance
Proof of receipt of Personal Independence Payment
Proof of receipt of Disability Living Allowance
Proof of receipt of War Disablement Pension
Registered as severely sight-impaired
Building Specifics
All of our front-of-house areas, the front and tiered stalls of our Main Auditorium, and the front row of Studio One have level access for wheelchair users. Our Stage, Dressing Rooms, and Main Auditorium Tech Box also benefit from level access for patrons, staff, and visiting companies.
Location
Located on Osborn Road, the theatre is situated in the town centre, approximately fifteen minutes' walk from Fareham Train Station. Wheelchair access to the building is available from both the town centre entrance and the entrance from the north side car park.
Parking
There are three pay-and-display car parks immediately behind and adjacent to the venue. There are several parking spaces allocated to blue badge holders. All pay-and-display car parks are owned and operated by Fareham Borough Council, and as such, pay tariffs apply to all visitors, staff, and visiting companies.
Entrances & Box Office
The main entrance is on the North side of the building, on Osborn Road, and has fully automatic doors leading directly into the foyer. From this entrance, the Box Office is located on the left-hand side of our foyer.
We also have an entrance on the South side of the building, accessible on the path from the town centre through the shopping precinct. This has a sloped path of access, with one automatic door and two manual doors. From this entrance, you enter the theatre between our cafe and foyer spaces, with the box office to your right.
We also have a Cafe entrance that is open only at certain times and has a sloped path of access with one manual door. From this entrance, the Box Office can be found to your right.
Toilets There are level-access lavatories on both floors, with a customer lift available between the Ground and Terrace levels. We also have designated access and a changing places lavatory – please see the signage or ask a member of staff for help. Wheelchair Seating in the Auditorium
We have six wheelchair spaces in the front stalls and two wheelchair spaces in our tiered stalls. Essential companions accompanying patrons in wheelchairs will be able to claim a complimentary ticket alongside the customer they are caring for (verification may be required; please see the list of accepted documents under Personal Assistant Policy). These can be booked by phone or in person; please note that wheelchair-accessible seating is held off-sale on our website to ensure they are available to those who need them, so please always visit in person or contact us directly at either [email protected] or 0343 310 0022. Tickets will be sent directly to your email address as an e-ticket.
Portable Show Relay Headsets
At our Box Office, we have several portable show relay headsets that, when worn, will play the show relay of your performance through the headset. These provide audio support for customers with hearing difficulties. If you require a portable show relay headset, please ask at our Box Office.
Guide/Hearing Dogs
Guide and Hearing Dogs are welcome in all our spaces. If you would like to take your dog into the Main Auditorium or Studio One, please let us know when booking, and a complimentary adjacent seat will be reserved for your animal.
If you are blind or visually impaired and would like to attend with a personal assistant, please contact the Box Office at [email protected].
If you would like to visit Fareham Live when performances are not taking place to see the wheelchair spaces available in the auditorium, please contact the Box Office at [email protected], please to organise a suitable time to visit; due to the needs of the space, Auditorium access is not available at all times.
Photosensitivity and Respiratory Conditions
For any performance containing strobe lighting, flashing lights, pyrotechnics, haze/smoke, and/or loud bangs/explosions, a notice will be displayed in all public areas and on the doors of the relevant space. Our Duty Managers, Ushers and Scanners will also be aware of the show's content. We have several sets of ear defenders available from our Box Office, and our foyer screens will displace notices prior to any performances containing strobe lighting, flashing lights, pyrotechnics, haze/smoke, and/or loud bangs/explosions which we have been informed about in advance. If you would like to know prior to a performance, please contact our Box Office at [email protected].
Access Specific Performances
Fareham Live is committed to ensuring its programme is accessible, diverse, and reflective of the audience that comes to see it. We hold access-specific performances, including relaxed performances and BSL-interpreted performances, throughout the year. Please check specific show pages or contact [email protected] for more information. For BSL performances, our interpreter is often on the left side of the auditorium as you look towards the stage. We will endeavour to update individual show listings with details of the interpreter and their location on stage.