Everyone is welcome at Royal & Derngate. We are making our spaces as accessible as possible so that everyone has the best experience.
All live performance and participation activities should be accessible to everyone. We offer a range of services and facilities that support different needs when visiting our venue.
Our dedicated Access Hosts wear orange ties so they stand out from our Front of House team. They can assist you to your seats via our lifts and ramps, provide hearing loops or sensory bags and are always happy to look after any support dogs while you enjoy the show. Their aim is to support you during your visit so you can have a stress-free experience. They will also help patrons with access needs in the case of an emergency. Just ask for an Access Host when you arrive.
Access Information
Access Scheme
Access Enhanced Performances
ACCESS INFORMATION
- Standing & Queueing
- Accessible Parking
- Wheelchair Users & Mobility Scooters
- Difficulty Standing
- Difficulty With Crowds
- Level Access
- Distances
- Urgent Access To Toilets
- Assistance Dogs
- Essential Companions
- Accessing Visual Information
- Accessing Audible Information
- Other Access Information
STANDING & QUEUEING
We aim to welcome, assist and serve everyone as quickly, comfortably, and safely as possible. While we do our best to minimise waiting times, there are a few moments during your visit where standing or queuing may be required.
- Arrival – You may be asked to queue briefly for security bag checks and ticket scanning. Having your tickets ready and bringing minimal items where possible can help make this process quicker.
- Facilities – At busier times, queues may form for bar service, ice cream trays, toilets, and the cloakroom.
- Getting to Your Seat – Our ushers will check tickets and guide you to your seat, which may involve a short wait at the auditorium entrance.
- Exiting – When the performance ends, you may experience short queues as audiences leave the building all together.
ACCESSIBLE PARKING
There are disabled badge holders’ parking spaces to the front of Royal & Derngate in Albion Place surface car park (NN1 1UD).
WHEELCHAIRS & MOBILITY SCOOTERS
We are unable to process wheelchair user and wheelchair transfer bookings online – customers must call our Box Office or visit in person.
There are dedicated seats held off sale that can be booked by wheelchair users by contacting our Box Office Team. This ensures that suitable seating is allocated and you have a comfortable experience at our venue.
Any wheelchair user or transfer customers that make a booking online in standard seating may be contacted to relocate or refused entry into the auditorium due to safety reasons.
Should you need to use a mobility scooter to get to your seat, a staff member can assist with a wheelchair we have for use in these instances. Scooters can be safely left outside the auditorium.
DIFFICULTY STANDING
If you find standing difficult, there are several ways we aim to support you during your visit. Seating is available throughout our foyers, with chairs and tables in the bar areas, as well as benches at our entrances and nearby Accessible Toilet facilities. Our Access Hosts are on hand to help and can assist you by going to the bar on your behalf, or by offering support if you need to wait in a quieter or more comfortable space. Please speak to the team on arrival if you need support.
DIFFICULTY WITH CROWDS
Our Foyers and Entrances can become very busy before performances, during the interval and after the show. If you find yourself struggling at any point, please speak to any member of our Customer Experience Team who can assist you with getting to where you need to go, or find somewhere quieter for you until the crowd disperses.
A Sensory Space is made available for relaxed performances and family-focussed shows. This is a quiet space where you can take a break from the show or busy foyer and relax. Our sensory space has a lay-down pod, floor cushions, colouring and puzzles. You can also borrow a Sensory Bag from our Access Hosts, these include fidget toys, ear defenders, sunglasses and communication cards. Our Access Hosts are on hand if you find you are struggling and they will guide you to our Sensory Space or other quiet or open space.
LEVEL ACCESS
Some areas of the auditorium have steep stairs and may not be suitable for people with limited mobility. There is no lift access to the Royal or Derngate Upper Circles – we would recommend anyone with mobility issues speaks directly to our Box Office team before booking, or books in the Stalls or Circles.
ROYAL: For the Stalls there are 19 steps down to the auditorium, with lift access for access patrons. For the Circle there are up to 14 steps up to the rear of the auditorium with level lift access for access patrons. For the Upper Circle there are up to 36 steps up to the auditorium, with no lift access.
DERNGATE: For the Stalls there are up to 16 steps up the auditorium, with level lift access for access patrons. For the Circle there are up to 20 steps up to the auditorium, with level lift access for access patrons. For the Upper Circle there are up to 35 steps up to the auditorium, with no lift access.
UNDERGROUND: There are 19 steps down to the studio, with lift access for access patrons. Seating layout varies with the performance, please speak to our Box Office team to confirm the best seat for you.
DISTANCES
- Approximately 60 metres from the Main Entrance to the Derngate Auditorium
- Approximately 90 metres from the Main Entrance to the Royal Auditorium
- Approximately 70 metres from the Main Entrance to the Underground Studio
URGENT ACCESS TO TOILETS
Accessible toilet facilities are available. Baby changing facilities are on both our entrance and Underground levels. There is an adult changing facility with hoist located next to the Underground Studio, accessible by lift. A RADAR key is required to gain entrance to this facility. Please speak to one of our dedicated Access Hosts – members of the Customer Experience team wearing orange ties to stand out – who will be happy to help.
ASSISTANCE DOGS
We welcome all Assistance Dogs and water can be provided. We also offer free “doggy” ice cream for all service dogs visiting the theatre for a performance. If you wish to take your dog into the auditorium, please let Box Office know when booking so that suitable seats are assigned to you.
Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate Emotional Support Animals/Dogs. For more information about our policy, please contact our Box Office.
ESSENTIAL COMPANIONS
If you require an Essential Companion to support you during your visit, this should appear on your Nimbus Access Card or Digital Access Pass. Essential Companions must be over the age of 16 and be able to assist you throughout your visit including using toilet facilities, moving around the venue and during emergency evacuations.
ACCESSING VISUAL INFORMATION
Audio Description: Audio Description is available at selected performances and is delivered live through radio frequency headsets. These performances are clearly marked in our season brochure and on our Access Enhanced Performance Listings, or you can contact our Box Office team for guidance. On arrival, simply ask our Access Host for a headset.
Audio Enhancement: Audio Enhancement is available for all performances via Sennheiser Mobile Connect. This system allows you to listen through your own smartphone or table device with headphones and enhances the sound volume on stage.
- Download the free Sennheiser Mobile Connect App from the Apple Store or Google Play
- Once you’ve sat down in the auditorium, connect to the R&D Audio Description WiFi
- Open the app and follow the instructions on the app to get connected
- Ensure you have selected the correct venue and adjusted the volume on your device
A limited number of smartphones are available to borrow on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Please note, Mobile Connect is available only in the Royal auditorium and Derngate auditorium.
Touch Tours: For all of our Audio-Described Performances, we offer a free Touch Tour. This is an opportunity to experience the stage and set up close with our audio describer. You will be able to explore and touch set pieces, props and costumes. Touch Tours last around 30 minutes and are for specifically for visually impaired customers, those on the autistic spectrum or those with learning difficulties or additional needs. Spaces are limited so please speak to our Box Office team when booking your ticket to a performance.
Our season brochure is available in Audio and Large Print format
ACCESSING AUDIBLE INFORMATION
BSL Interpreted Performances: These performances have British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation throughout, delivered by an interpreter. The interpreter stands to the right of the stage in a spotlight.
Captioned Performances: At captioned performances large screens are positioned on either side of the stage. The actors’ spoken words convert into visible text.
OTHER ACCESS INFORMATION
Please be aware that there is a steep hill to walk up from St John’s Car Park to the Main Entrance on Swan Street.
Step Up Programme: We are working in partnership with Northgate School Arts College and Northamptonshire Association for the Blind to provide work experience for young people with learning disabilities and ASD. The scheme supports up to 12 young people a year, taking on front of house roles at the theatre which are tailored to their individual skills and needs. The aim is to provide them with invaluable experience, building up self-confidence and developing new skills which help them move on to paid employment.
ACCESS SCHEME
We are now part of the nationwide Nimbus Access Card Scheme. This provides a consistent way for customers with additional access needs to provide supporting documentation, without having to send it to every venue they want to visit.
We are transitioning to using the Nimbus Access Card Scheme from Wed 1 April 2026, and will no longer be accepting applications to our own Access Scheme from this date. Customers who are registered with our existing Access Scheme will have that account honoured up until Wed 31 March 2027 or their current expiry date – whichever is sooner – after which date they will need to have joined Nimbus.
There are two options for customers to join the Nimbus scheme – the free Digital Access Pass, which is usable at all Northamptonshire Arts Management Trust venues (Royal & Derngate, Northampton Filmhouse and The Core at Corby Cube) or the Nimbus Access Card which costs £15 for 3 years and is usable nationwide.
Whichever way you choose to use the Nimbus Access Scheme, we ask you to fill out our short questionnaire so that we can make sure your access requirements are met specifically for our venues.
IMPORTANT: If you already have an account with our Access Scheme you don’t need to do anything right now – we will be in touch when your account is ready to move over to the new system, and your existing account will be honoured until then.
Apply for a Digital Access Pass (DAP) for Northamptonshire Arts Management Trust venues (FREE)
Apply for a Nimbus Access Card (£15 for 3 years payable to Nimbus)
Already have an Access Card or your DAP number? Fill out this questionnaire online – or download and complete this PDF version of the form.
Benefits of registering with our Access Scheme:
- It’s free to join!
- Your Access Scheme Membership is valid for 3 years.
- Dedicated Access Booking Line (Call, Text, Email)
- Priority Booking
- Reserve tickets for up to 4 days
- Quarterly Access E-Newsletter
- Stored preferences for faster, more tailored service
- Eligible to apply for discounted tickets or free essential companion tickets (where concessions apply, and supporting documents are provided)
ACCESS ENHANCED PERFORMANCES
All performances are accessible. However we offer Access Enhanced Performances which offer different services to support specific needs.
Audio Described Performances
Audio Description is available at selected performances and is delivered live through radio frequency headsets. These performances are clearly marked in our season brochure and on our Access Enhanced Performance Listings, or you can contact our Box Office team for guidance. On arrival, simply ask our Access Host for a headset.
Touch Tours
For many of our Audio-Described Performances, we offer a free Touch Tour. This is an opportunity to experience the stage and set up close with our audio describer. You will be able to explore and touch set pieces, props and costumes. Touch Tours last around 30 minutes and are for specifically for visually impaired customers, those on the autistic spectrum or those with learning difficulties or additional needs. Spaces are limited so please speak to our Box Office team when booking your ticket to a performance.
BSL Interpreted Performances
These performances have British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation throughout, delivered by an interpreter. The interpreter stands to the right of the stage in a spotlight.
Captioned Performances
At captioned performances large screens are positioned on either side of the stage. The actors’ spoken words convert into visible text.
Relaxed Performances
During Relaxed performances elements of the show adapt to reduce anxiety and stress. These performances welcome those who would like to see the show in a less formal atmosphere. Whilst the narrative of the show does not change, we make small adjustments to sound levels and special effects. We operate an ‘open door’ policy, allowing free movement in and out of the auditorium during the performance. These performances adapt to benefit those on the autistic spectrum, younger audiences those living with dementia or those with learning difficulties or additional needs. Relaxed Performances are also a great first encounter to the magic of theatre!
Visual Story Guides
We recognise that visiting the theatre can seem quite daunting so visitors can access our Visual Story Guides, which tell a story from arriving at the doors right through to the end of the show so you can get a good understanding of what to expect from your visit. Our guides include photos of the venue, information about access facilities and trigger warnings about the show that you are coming to watch.
Dementia Friendly Performances
These performances support audience members living with Dementia, their families, friends and carers. We make small adaptations to the show to which may include sound and light levels. There are extra staff on hand to support audiences and have a relaxed attitude to movement and audience reactions during the show.