THE PICCADILLY THEATRE

VISUAL STORY

A visual resource for people with Autism Spectrum Condition visiting the

theatre. This resource is intended to help prepare visitors for a new

experience and to help them to become familiar with the venue.

Welcome to the Piccadilly Theatre. This is what you will see when you arrive. Our

current show is Annie, which is a musical. The closest underground station is

Piccadilly Circus.

This is the Box Office. This is where you will collect your tickets from. It may get

crowded from 45 minutes before the show begins.

This is the cloakroom. If you have any bags or coats you don’t want to carry

around, you can leave them here. Our staff will take very good care of them.

You can also buy programmes, drinks and snacks here.

If you look at your ticket you will see where to go to find your seat.

If you are sitting in the Stalls, you will be going down stairs that look like this.

If you are sitting in the Royal Circle, you will be going up stairs that look like this.

If you are sitting in the Grand Circle, you will be going up stairs that look like this.

If you require step-free access, let an Usher know and you can go through here.

You will see lots of Ushers wearing white shirts and black and white ties.

Ushers work for the theatre and are there to help if you have any questions.

If you need to go to the toilet look for these signs or ask an Usher for directions.

Our accessible toilet is located in the Royal Circle.

This is the auditorium. There are seats for the audience to sit in. The auditorium is

a large room which will be full of lots of other people, so it can be noisy.

When you get to the auditorium an Usher will show you where your seats are.

You may hear a bell ring. This is to let you know that the show is about to start. If

you haven’t sat in your seat yet, you should now.

When the performance starts, the lights will go down and the theatre will be

darker, but it will get brighter on stage. During the show some people will clap

to show that they like the show, but this is nothing to worry about.

During the performance you might hear the actors make a joke. Some of the

audience may laugh. You can laugh too if you’d like. There may also be parts

that make you feel sad. You can feel sad if you like, that’s okay.

If you would like to take some time out from being in the auditorium that’s fine.

We have several quiet spaces where you can sit and relax. Or you can watch

the performance on a screen so you don’t miss any of the show.

If at any point there is an emergency you can follow these signs to exits that

look like this. Ushers will be there to help you or answer any questions.

Halfway through the show, there will be a short break. This is called the interval.

The lights where you are sitting will get brighter and people may clap to show

that they are enjoying the show. You can clap if you’d like. You don’t have to if

you don’t want to.

This is when you can go to the toilet or buy some refreshments.

At the end of the interval, you may hear a bell ring. This is to let you know that

the show is about to start again and you can go back to your seats again.

When the show finishes, people will clap and some people may stand to show

that they have enjoyed the show. The stage will go dark and the actors will

come back on stage and will bow to the audience. This is called a ‘curtain call’.

If you want to clap or stand, you can. You don’t have to clap or stand if you

don’t want to.

The Ushers will show you to your nearest exit.

We hope you enjoy your trip to the Piccadilly Theatre.