The Dukes is a professional producing theatre and independent cinema with a gallery space and welcoming bar area. The Dukes produces 6 theatre shows a year and has over 400 cinema screenings including foreign films with English subtitles. The Dukes is also a venue for touring shows.
Both The Round entrance and main foyer are fully accessible to wheelchair users (this includes access to the bar and gallery). Unfortunately the Dukes’ front entrance is accessed via several steps. However, there is ramp access down the alley to the left of the main entrance, although the surface of the alley is cobbled. There is a doorbell by the ramp if the door is not open. This then provides level access to the foyer, bar, gallery, Box Office, toilets and The Rake. There is level access to the front row of The Rake and The Round but there are steps to other rows. DT3 is fully accessible to wheelchair users. An accessible toilet is available in each space. A limited number of car parking spaces for blue badge holders can usually be reserved in advance. Please contact us in advance if you require any assistance. A more detailed access guide is available on request from our Box Office.
Facilities for deaf or hard of hearing people
Infra red sound systems are available to amplify sound via a personal headset. Headsets can be booked in advance from Box Office. Selected film screenings in our programme are subtitled for hard of hearing patrons. An induction loop system is also available at the box office and in the Gallery.
Each of our home-produced theatre shows have a British Sign Language Interpreted Performance. There is no extra charge for this performance and we offer a free ticket for a companion if required. For details of our upcoming BSL Interpreted Performances please contact our Box Office.
Facilities for people with visual impairments
For people who have difficulty seeing the stage, all Dukes Home Grown theatre productions have an audio described performance. This provides a live commentary of all the visual aspects of the production via a personal headset (like a Walkman) which the Dukes provides and which no-one else can hear. The service is provided by a professional audio describer, Anne Hornsby of Mind’s Eye who will set the scene, describe the costumes and props and tell you all the actors’ moves, facial expressions etc as they happen. She is specially trained to do this without you missing too much of the speech in the play. We also offer touch tours before our audio described performance to enable people with visual impairments to feel their way around the set, costumes and props to get a better understanding of the show.
Please let the Box Office know if you would like to try the service when you book. No extra charge and we offer a free ticket for acompanion if required.
To get details of our Audio Described Performances please Email: marketing@dukes-lancaster.org Phone: the Dukes on 01524 598500
Guide dogs and hearing dogs are welcome and fresh drinking water is always available for them.