Every seat should have a great view.
Theatre should be for everyone. WelcoMe connects your box office to your front-of-house team—so access requirements are captured at booking and barriers removed before curtain up.
Of UK population are disabled
Spent on arts & entertainment annually by disabled people
Have had a negative access experience at a venue
Common barriers in theatre
These barriers exclude audiences every performance. Here's how to remove them.
Seating barriers
Limited wheelchair spaces, companions seated separately, poor sightlines
Visit prep ensures right space allocated. Companion seating confirmed in advance.
Communication barriers
No captioning, hearing loops unreliable, BSL interpretation rare
Audit tracks assistive tech status. Staff trained in communication access.
Information barriers
Online booking inaccessible, no audio description, visual-only wayfinding
Customer requirements captured at booking. AD and touch tours flagged to staff.
Environmental barriers
No relaxed performances, sensory overload, rigid arrival times
Promote accessibility hours. Brief front-of-house on individual needs.
Capture requirements at the point of sale
WelcoMe integrates with your existing ticketing system. When a customer books, their confirmation email includes a link to share their access requirements. No extra steps for box office staff.
"Thank you for booking! If you have any access requirements for your visit, you can share them securely via your WelcoMe Key:"
Real scenarios, real impact
See how preparation transforms the audience experience.
Evening performance
Wheelchair user books for Saturday night show. They don't transfer and need space for companion.
Box office doesn't flag requirements. Customer arrives to find wheelchair space has obstructed view. Companion seated three rows away.
Requirements captured at booking via WelcoMe. Best wheelchair space held. Adjacent companion seat confirmed. Staff briefed for arrival.
Bottom line: Customer enjoys the show and books again. Without preparation, they never return.
Audio described performance
Blind customer wants to attend AD performance. First time at this venue.
No pre-visit information. Customer anxious about navigation. Arrives late due to wayfinding issues. Misses AD introduction.
WelcoMe Key shared in advance. Touch tour offered. Staff briefed to meet and guide. Headset ready and tested.
Bottom line: Confident, independent visit. Customer becomes regular attender.
Relaxed performance
Autistic teenager attending first theatre show with parent. Sensory sensitivities to sudden loud noises.
No preparation possible. Teen overwhelmed by pre-show noise. Family leaves at interval.
Requirements shared in advance. Quiet seating area allocated. Staff aware to check in gently. Visual story provided beforehand.
Bottom line: Successful first theatre experience. Family books for next relaxed performance.
Three pillars for theatre
Audit your venue
Map barriers from foyer to auditorium. Track assistive technology status. Plan improvements.
Learn about audits →Prepare for every performance
Requirements captured at booking. Front-of-house briefed before doors open. No surprises.
Learn about visits →Train your team
Theatre-specific scenarios. Spaced repetition that sticks. From box office to ushers.
Learn about training →Ready to welcome every audience member?
See how WelcoMe helps theatres and arts venues remove barriers and grow audiences.