We are committed to making Polka accessible and inclusive to everyone.
Find out about our upcoming performances and access facilities below.
Our website uses Recite Me – an accessibility tool allowing you to customise the website in a way that works for you. This can be found on the right hand side of the top navigation bar labelled as Access Tools. More information can be found here.
To book tickets, discuss particular needs, or find out more, please get in touch. We’d be happy to help.
Download our access booking guide below.
On this page
Your visit: Information about how to get to the venue and what to expect when you are here.
Access performances: Information about our Audio Described, British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreted, BSL Integrated, Captioned, and Relaxed performances.
Booking access tickets: Information about our access pricing and how to book.
About the theatre spaces: Information about accessing and sitting in our theatre spaces.
Your visit
Toilets
We have gender-specific, gender-neutral and accessible toilets available.
Right-hand transfer accessible toilets are located on the second floor. A left-hand transfer accessible toilet is available on the ground floor.
We also have baby changing facilities.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs are welcome at the theatre and we can take care of them for you during performances if necessary.
Wheelchair access
There is step-free access to all levels. We have level access to our Adventure Theatre, Clore Learning Studio, café, shop and outdoor play and garden spaces.
There is a lift to our Y C Chan Theatre, The Nest (rehearsal and community space) and meeting room. Speak to a member of our Visitor Services team if you require assistance.
There are automatic doors at the front of the building.
Breakout and sensory spaces
Our Sensory Suite in the Clore Learning Studio is available for private hire as well as booked events.
If you need a quiet space whilst visiting, just let us know – we’ll help you to find it.
Parking
Blue Badge holders may park on the single lines in front of the theatre for up to 3 hours.
Blue Badge holders can park in the Pay and Display bays near the theatre on Latimer Road and Bridges Road. There are two disabled spaces on Latimer Road.
Drop off is available at the front entrance.
Venue information
Clear signage is available throughout the building.
Our Venue Information Pack outlines all of our facilities and offers useful information to help you prepare for your visit.
Want to see any of the spaces before your visit? Contact Box Office and we’ll see if we can help.
Induction loop
Our Main and Adventure theatres and The Nest rehearsal space are fitted with an induction loop system for hearing aid users. Please reach out to our Box Office team to find out more.
Public transport
Bus routes 57, 93, 131, & 219 stop approximately 25 metres from Polka.
Wimbledon Mainline Station & Tube Station (District Line) are 800 metres from the theatre (approximately 15 minutes walking). There are lifts from the platform to street level.
A taxi rank can be found outside the main entrance of the station.
South Wimbledon Tube Station (Northern Line) is 700 metres from the theatre (approximately 10 minutes walking).
Fire Evacuation Social Story
In the unlikely event of an emergency, you may be required to evacuate the building. To help prepare, read the below social story detailing our evacuation process.
Access performances
Audio Described
An Audio Described performance offers live descriptive commentary of the show for blind or visually impaired audience members. The commentary can be accessed through a small earpiece (available to collect from Box Office before the show).
For anyone requiring audio description, a scheduled Touch Tour is available. This is a chance to meet the cast, touch the stage and selected props, and gain a sense of what will be happening during the performance. Carers, companions, and family members are welcome. Touch Tours must be booked in advance with the Box Office.
A pre-show introduction will be delivered 15 minutes before the show and will be available on our website a few days before the performance.
Click here to experience our Audio Described trailers.
BSL Interpreted and BSL Integrated
BSL Interpreted performances feature a BSL interpreter (usually located at the side of the stage) who will use British Sign Language to interpret the show live.
BSL Integrated performances feature actors or BSL interpreters who use British Sign Language as part of the action on stage.
BSL performances provide Deaf or hard of hearing patrons with a way to access theatre using their first or preferred language of communication.
Click here to see a BSL interpreter in action at one of our previous productions.
Click here to experience our BSL show introductions.
Captioned
These performances feature a digital screen located at the side of the stage, or above the actors’ heads. This screen displays live captions of the performance in English.
Captioned performances are suitable for Deaf, deafened or hard of hearing audience members, for those who might not speak English as their first language, and for those who feel they benefit from captions and subtitles.
Relaxed
Relaxed performances may benefit those with sensory sensitivities and first-time theatre goers who are unsure about how their child might respond to the theatre environment.
- Auditorium lights are kept on at a low level
- Loud sound levels, flashing lights, and haze (water vapour that looks like smoke) will be reduced or removed
- Audience sizes will be smaller
- A designated chill-out space is provided.
Social story packs can be found on our website before the relaxed show. These contain detailed information about the venue and the show, including a breakdown of what to expect in each scene. View a previous pack here.
All standard performances at Polka offer a relaxed or chilled environment in which we welcome audience members to exit and re-enter the theatre space and react vocally to the performance, should they need to.
Is an access performance for me?
Learn more about access performances and whether they might be the right fit for you, in our helpful blog post.
Upcoming Audio Described performances
Saturday 7 March 2.30pm (Touch Tour 1.30pm)
Saturday 2 – Sunday 31 May
All performances include creative captions, integrated BSL and audio description.
(Touch Tour 1pm on Sunday 10, Saturday 16 and Saturday 23 May)
Sunday 26 July 2.30pm (Touch Tour 1.30pm)
Saturday 12 December 2.30pm (Touch Tour 1.30pm)
Upcoming BSL performances
Sunday 8 March 2.30pm
Saturday 2 – Sunday 31 May
All performances include creative captions, integrated BSL and audio description.
Sunday 7 June 1.30pm
Sunday 2 August 2.30pm
Sunday 10 January 2.30pm
Sunday 13 December 2pm
Upcoming Captioned performances
Saturday 14 March 11am
Saturday 2 – Sunday 31 May
All performances include creative captions, integrated BSL and audio description.
Thursday 30 July 2.30pm
Saturday 9 January 11am
Upcoming Relaxed performances
toooB (every performance is a relaxed environment)
Saturday 25 February – Sunday 8 March
Saturday 28 February 11am
Saturday 13 June 10.30am
Tuesday 28 July 2pm
Schools Relaxed: Thursday 9 July 1.15pm
Saturday 1 August 11am
Sunday 29 November 10.30am
Schools Relaxed: Friday 4 December 1.30pm
Saturday 5 December 11am
Booking access tickets
Access bookers get a reduced rate ticket, a free companion and up to two further tickets at a reduced rate. To book online, select your required tickets and proceed to the basket. Log into your account and update your Access Requirements (listed under “Other Preferences”). Then, use the code ACCESSOFFER for the discount to apply.
If you encounter any issues while booking online, you can contact us on 020 8543 4888 or access@polkatheatre.com.
“It was amazing and all our families loved it. The touch tour was a wonderful addition and the audio description is one of the best we’ve heard”
Audience feedback, ‘Crackers’ audio described performance
About the theatre spaces
Seating
In our Y C Chan Theatre, seats are 500 millimetres (mm) wide and 490mm deep. The arms are 285mm long and 70mm wide.
The Adventure Theatre is a mix of unreserved bench and floor seating.
Accessing the auditorium
There is level access to our Adventure Theatre. The Y C Chan Theatre can be accessed via the stairs to the left of our Box Office or via a lift located at the end of our main corridor. The distance from our main entrance to the lift is 25 metres (m). The distance from the lift to the wheelchair spaces is 6-14m, depending on where you are seated.
Please speak to a member of our Visitor Services team for support. They will be wearing a Polka Theatre lanyard or t-shirt.
Access/Wheelchair spaces
There are 4 wheelchair spaces available in our Adventure Theatre and 6 wheelchair spaces available in our Y C Chan Theatre.
Access/wheelchair spaces in our Y C Chan Theatre are 1x1m.