ACCESS THE HAWTH CRAWLEY
Your Access Guide to The Hawth Accessibility For All Helping you make the most of your Hawth experience We are committed to making your visit to The Hawth as enjoyable and memorable experience as possible. Visitors using wheelchairs or with mobility issues Wheelchair users may be accompanied by a companion or can come independently if they can reach the wheelchair areas unaided. Tickets for wheelchair users and companions are half price. A wheelchair is available from the reception area for use by visitors free of charge. Please book with Box Office in advance. Theatre – There is space for six wheelchairs in the front stalls Studio – There is space for five wheelchairs. People with mobility issues There are a number of seats that can be accessed without using steps in both the Theatre and Studio, please call the Box Office for further information Exhibition areas There is an exhibition space in the lower and upper foyers showing touring exhibitions and local artists. The upstairs foyer can be accessed via the lift, or via a flight of stairs from the lower foyer. Admission to all exhibitions is free and they can be viewed Monday -Saturday from 8pm-6.15pm. Amphitheatre – We recommend all wheelchair users attending shows in the amphitheatre are accompanied by a companion due to the gravel surface and slight slope en route to the amphitheatre – there are approximately 10 spaces for wheelchair users and their companions.
Blind and Partially Sighted Visitors Audio Described Performances The Hawth's volunteer Audio Description team describe performances throughout the year. Details can be found in the theatre brochure – available from The Hawth Box Office or on PDF via www.hawth.co.uk. Headsets for the description should be reserved ten days in advance with the Box Office. Blind or partially sighted patrons are able to sit anywhere – with or without a companion, but we do recommend patrons whose limited vision would make it difficult for them to leave the building in an emergency should be accompanied by a companion. Touch Tours Available prior to some performances, please contact the box office for details. Assistance Dogs Dogs trained to assist people with disability are welcome throughout the building. Deaf and Hearing Impaired Visitors British Sign Language interpreted and Captioned performances The Hawth organises BSL interpreted performances throughout the year. Details can be found in the theatre brochure – available from The Hawth Box Office or on PDF at www.hawth.co.uk. Induction Loop An induction loop is installed in the theatre and studio, for customers with a T switch on their hearing aids. Headsets for Hearing Impaired customers are available, please book in advance with the Box Office. Relaxed Performances The Hawth offers specially designed performances adapted to reduce anxiety and create a supportive atmosphere for people with autism spectrum
conditions, learning disabilities and other sensory and communication disorders. Patrons with additional needs are welcome at any performance in the theatre, however, if you think you or your companions would enjoy a more relaxed environment, Relaxed Performances offers specific support for you. Details can be found in the theatre brochure, online or by contacting the Box Office. Food and Drink Café Vita on the ground floor is open for coffee, tea, cakes and pastries Monday-Friday from 11am and from 12am-2pm for lunch. Menus are available on request or you can view them online. Book and reserve a table in advance by calling the Box Office on 01293 553636. Interval Drinks Drinks are ordered from the bar. Anyone with a disability can order drinks through a member of Hawth staff – please approach a front of house assistant before the performance and they will be happy to help. Facilities at The Hawth Parking There are 8 free parking spaces directly outside the main entrance and 5 a short distance away for use by disabled patrons, with another 250 free spaces in the main car parks a short distance from the main entrance – all with level access to The Hawth. Access Entry There is unstepped level access, from the disabled and main parking areas through automatic doors leading to the foyer. Lift There is a lift to the upstairs bar, meeting rooms, upper foyer rear stalls and circle seating. Toilets There are two accessible toilets – one by the bar in the lower foyer and the other next to the lift in the upper foyer, with baby changing facilities in the lower adapted toilet.
Floor surface Once inside The Hawth, the floor surface is carpeted, with a tiled floor in the adapted toilets. The route to The Hawth Amphitheatre is grass, concrete and gravel. Telephones Please ask a member of staff if you need to use the telephone. Getting to The Hawth How to find us The Hawth, Hawth Avenue, Crawley RH10 6YZ The Hawth is easily accessible by motorway, air (Gatwick Airport is four miles away) and rail. If you’d like a map please contact Box Office on 01293 553636 or email hawthboxoffice@parkwoodtheatres.co.uk and we’ll get one to you. By Bus –The Fastway services 4, 5 and 20 stop on the Haslett Avenue ‘Squareabout’. For up to date timetables and information call 01293 449191 or visit www.metrobus.co.uk By Rail Three Bridges (1200 metres) and Crawley (1600 metres) stations both have taxi ranks immediately outside. For further information about rail services, visit www.thetrainline.com. Crawley Dial-a-Ride – Crawley Dial-a-Ride is a transport service for the elderly, or people with temporary or permanent disability which prevents them from using public transport. Dial-a-Ride runs from Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. For details of journey availability and fares please call 01293 657080.
Keep In Touch Ask at Box Office to be added to our mailing list for our regular brochure which is also available in the following formats: Large Print Braille Audio version on CD (also available www.hawth.co.uk on Access page) A text version which we can email to you. Suggestions Please feel free to send any suggestions which may further improve the service we provide. Contact us Box Office 01293 553636 The Hawth Hawth Avenue Crawley RH10 6YZ E-mail: hawthboxoffice@parkwoodtheatres.co.uk Website: www.hawth.co.uk We welcome TextRelay calls - see www.textrelay.org for more details