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Buxton Opera House & Pavilion Arts Centre

Overview

Built in 1903, Buxton Opera House is one of Britain's leading receiving theatres, presenting around 450 performances each year including dance, concerts, musicals, drama, comedy, pantomime and opera. The theatre is also home to the prestigious Buxton Festival and is the new home of the Big Session Festival. For a full listing of what's on visit: www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk or call our friendly box office on: 01298 72190.

Contact details

St John's Road Buxton Derbyshire East Midlands SK17 6BE United Kingdom

https://buxtonoperahouse.org.uk/visit-us/access

customerservice@boh.org.uk

01298 72190

Access guidance

• Buxton Opera House and Pavilion Arts Centre has seating on all levels of the theatre and our front of house team are on hand to help make your visit as comfortable as possible. You can order your refreshments, merchandise and programmes when you arrive to avoid queuing. Our front of house team can bring refreshments to your seat during the interval.
• The Opera House is an Edwardian building and only partially accessible to wheelchair users. The level access entrance is 72cms at its narrowest point. Unfortunately the building cannot be accessed by motorised scooters. We have three wheelchair spaces in the Stalls at ground floor level. All parts of Pavilion Arts Centre, except the Main Room balcony, are accessible by wheelchair. We are happy to help you transfer from your wheelchair to the theatre seats. If you will be transferring from a wheelchair to theatre seating, even if you don't need any help, please let us know when booking. For your safety, we advise that you bring a companion if you would have difficulty making your own way out of our buildings in an emergency. Although the Opera House foyer and Box Office counter are not accessible, there is wheelchair access to the Box Office side door in Water Street, where there is an intercom system. The bars in the Opera House are not accessible by wheelchair, but a member of staff will gladly bring refreshments to your seat.
• It is possible to be dropped off outside the Opera House. There is a large pavement at the front of the building with a slight incline and the distance from the curb to the entrance of the building is approximately 10m. We have a level access route that takes you directly into the rear of the stalls, where our Ushers will be happy to help you find your seat. The distance from the front of the building to the stalls is approximately 15m. Inside the building we have four levels, all of which are accessed via stairs with handrails. We are able to provide seating in most areas of the Theatre for rest breaks. If you are not able to walk to our bars, we are able to provide you with beverages and snacks without you needing to leave your seat. It is possible to be dropped off outside the Pavilion Arts Centre, where there is level access into the main auditorium. The distance from the curb to the auditorium is approximately 30m and our staff will be happy to provide chairs for rest breaks. In the Pavilion Arts Centre lifts are available for use between the ground floor and the balcony, there is a short walk from the lift.
• The stalls level in both venues have adapted toilets. If you require urgent access to the toilet because of an impairment/disability, please make this known to our front of house team and they will make sure that you are quickly and discretely shown toward the nearest toilet. Access Card holders need only to show their card with the WC symbol.
• Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of the building. Please talk to the box office about any special requirements when booking.
• In both venues your safety is paramount. In an emergency, if you would have difficulty making your way out of the building on your own, we strongly advise that you bring a companion. If there are discounts available on a performance we can offer a free companion ticket to anyone in receipt of Carer's Allowance or anyone accompanying an Access Card holder with the +1 symbol. Other essential companions and Derbyshire County Council Carers Emergency Card holders can still receive a 50% discount on full price tickets as long as there are discounts available on a performance. These companion tickets are only available if you are accompanying the person you are caring for and are subject to availability.
• We can provide the Opera House brochure in other formats on request. Please contact the Marketing Department on: 01298 72050.
• We have passive infra-red (PIR) systems in both venues for customers with hearing impairments. This works through a headset rather than your hearing aid, please reserve a headset through the Box Office when you book your tickets (£10 cash deposit required, limited availability). There is an induction loop system at both Box Offices. We have a signed performance of the pantomime each year, please see the website for more information