Happy New Year everyone!! My new years resolution is to go to theatre and shows more. So far I have the Blue 25th anniversary tour in Bournemouth and Beyond the Barricade in Basingstoke. I’m hoping to also book Tease in Basingstoke as well.

The biggest problem is that venues have a very limited number of wheelchair spaces (I couldn’t get tickets to Westlife 25th anniversary tour because of this) and some have even less cheap companion seats available leading me to have to pay for a wheelchair space and a companion/carer seat as most places won’t let a wheelchair attendee be on their own (my legs don’t work properly but that doesn’t mean I cant get out of a building in an emergency).

The other issue is that the limited number of wheelchair seats are often at the back of the theatre which I understand as a lot of them are older buildings but it means a worse view feeling less involved.

The third issue is that most wheelchair spaces only allow one companion/carer space so if you want to go as part of a big group chances are you’ll be sitting separately. This is especially true if you want them to be sitting in good seats. (I once attended a touring production of The Lion King and I sat in my wheelchair at the back whilst my family sat near the front with their kids because I didn’t want them to be stuck at the back).

It’s for these reasons I love The Anvil in Basingstoke; the wheelchair seats are near the front, you get a cheaper companion/carer ticket and you’re in the stalls so if you have a big party they can be near you. They do still have a limited number of wheelchair seats but a call early in ticket release generally secures them.

Which leads me to my final question; why do so many venues require you to phone for accessible tickets whilst non disabled can book theirs online?