Theatre access

wheels of ire

I have just been to see Bill Bailey at the Olympia, and laughed till it hurt.I would like to compliment the staff of the Olympia for being helpful as always.
They had a change, this time; on previous visits, I was out in the aisle, with an empty seat to my side (often put my chair pusher in it foc), this time they have taken out back row of seats to create space. Ipersonally would prefer to be about halfway forward, or at the front.
The Gaiety also puts wheelchairs at the back of the stalls.And their staff seem ok, but the Palme d'Or must go to Vicar street, where I'm treated so well that I thought it had to be a case of mistaken identity.
Anyone else got opinions?

Falkorre

hmm....
was at the olympia myself not long ago, seeing David straussman, gotta say, had a great time an cant fault the staff at all.

Personally, I prefere the back row in there, as you are kinda on a height and get a great view. But I do agree that there is no need for the entire row to be removed, 3 or 4 seats is more than enuf.

Ya know, when I was younger, I was out all the time, every night from the age of 13/14 till 19/20 I would be in a different pub every night, (i looked old for my age lol), back then, (not *that* long ago), very few places were really accessible, and most that were just happened to be, not by any real thought put into it.
Places like McGonagles, Fibbers, George, O'Reillys, etc etc were my regular haunts, but they were still problematic. (No wheelchair toilets (cept o'reillys etc).

Recently I had occasion to make some calls to these places, turns out a fair bit has changed, gr8 to see that finally. Im 26 now, and if my health improves I may get to see some of these facelifts! lolol

B

Victor

The building regulations specify certain minimum standards for the number of accessible "seats" (where seating is provided) and other facilities, depending on the size of the theatre / cinema.

Certainly the Olympia had been slow in improving things, but I imagine the Equal Status Act put the kybosh on any hesitance.

Falkorre

Maybe, maybe not vic.
Have u seen that HUGE new bar/niteclub/restaurant off the motorway, near liffey valley SC, think its called "Arc" ??
Guess what, 100% brand new building, no lift up to club. :rolleyes:

b

wheels of ire

But aren't the buiding regs only applicable to new builds? There is, aprochrophally, a pub built in the last 10 years which has a disabled toilet, in the basement. Is this true?

Falkorre

LOL wheels,
That ones been round since I was on the scene,.... never was sure if it was real or urban legend lol

Arc *shud* be accessable, its sposed to be, but its only partially, and in ssome way they appear to have gotten round the regs.

Phoned just to be certain,....
Me: I was just wondering, does your premises have a lift for wheelchairs?
Staff: Well, we are going to *try* and put a "proper" one in as soon as we can.
Me: But you are a new building, arent you sposed to have one by law?
Staff: Well, Not to my knowledge, I think we just have to have a *place* for one which we do have. And we *do* have a small lift, that *might* work. And I suppose you *might* be able to go through the emergency exits, but I dont know if they would allow that, we arent even sposed to.
Me: Somhow I doubt that would suffice.
Staff: Well, I mean, there *is* a lift, but its rather small and I dunno if a big chair would fit. (didnt sound hopefull, can we say backpeddling?).
Me: Sigh, ok.

I did not expect to hear back from this muppet, and of course the manager wasnt available.
B

wheels of ire

Falcorre, thanks for that. I hope your health improves enough to get out more.
I have to accept some responsibility for some of the flaws in Temple Bar, as I was/am an active resident and a founder with others of some community groups. We, the existing residents, spent most of our time fighting Temple Bar Properties and fought and lost to the people who turned the pubs into drinking factories. Originally, there were only 13 licences.
Able-bodied then, I thought that the laying of the cobble stones was atmospheric and deadly. And that the pavements were a bit narrow, well, I never thought of that either.
To be absolutely honest, I didn't think of disability much before becoming a wheelchair user.
Now my point of view is very different. For a start, it's about 50cm lower. And every time I go out in the area, I do penance. Several fillings are in imminent danger of being rattled out.
I could have done more. I didn't. I apologise to wheelchair users and others of dodgy mobility.
About your sig: what is it? AK 47 with short muzzle,or what? And,hey I get angry too,(hence my handle) but not quite that angry!

Falkorre

lolol
I actually worked in Temple Bar Galleries & Studios for 3 years running disability related projects and other stuff, lol, so im familiar with the area lol (too damn familiar).

I do miss the *old* temple bar tho I must admit, before it became so damn fashionable lol.

As far as access goes, lol, i lost a lot of nerves to the place, some of those older pathways are a nail-biting experience lol, but wouldnt be such a problem were it not for the multitude of bin-bags, and biked chained to street signs on the very narrow path lol.

But all in all, i must say i do still like some of the place. lol

Oh an *trust* me, I know all about how damned "difficult" Temple Bar Properties are lol, try trying to be the go-between with them *and* the Arts Council,...*shudder*,.....they are one part of the place I DONT miss lol.

B

wheels of ire

Oh Falkorre, we are bound to know people in common, as I know people who work out of there. And good luck to those artists who were lucky enough to get a pretty keen deal. Sorry I'm not good with emoticons
What abuot the weapon that is your sig?

Falkorre

lol, its a SIG 551, a shortened version of the 550, u like it? lol
There are times I *wish* I had one lol :P

B