The Alexandra — Attraction in Birmingham

My husband and I visited The Alexandra Theatre for the first time last night to see Al Murray. He was brilliant and we thoroughly enjoyed the show. Having mobility issues and being a wheelchair user I was able to purchase the appropriate seating without too much of a problem. Prior to the performance, I checked I went online to identify suitable disabled parking. It said that an NPC carpark with disabled spaces was next door and just 200m away from the Theatre. Unaware of any alternatives, we decided that we would use this carpark despite knowing that we would be charged a small fortune! Sadly we were left very disappointed and frustrated with what we discovered. Signage to the disabled spaces was poor to say the least but we found a regular space where we were able to get my wheelchair out of the car. When we came to get the lift however, we were faced with a big step up to the doorway. Consequently, my husband had to manoeuvre me and my chair down the vehicular ramps facing oncoming traffic to finally find a doorway with a bit of concrete added to form a ramp up the step to the doorway! Having manoeuvred up that we then found that the doorway itself was barely wide enough for my self propelling chair to get through without removing the skin from my fingers! My wheelchair is of standard size and anyone with a larger chair would not stand a chance of getting through the space. We finally made our way into a small, cramped lift that involved a 90 degree turn to be able to get myself and my husband in at the same time. Finally outside the carpark we faced a walk uphill to the Theatre in the roadway towards oncoming traffic as there were no dropped curbs to enable me to get onto the pavement. When approaching the theatre itself, I noticed a sign indicating an entrance for peoples with mobility issues. Approaching from the carpark however we once again found there was no easily accessible dropped curb. REALLY? Obviously I appreciate that the carpark is not linked with the theatre (well, that is my assumption) and neither are the pavements, but surely there needs to be some communication and consideration by all parties to improve these very basic requirements of a wheelchair user. As I stated at the beginning of this review, we did enjoy the show but sadly I would think twice before booking anything at this Theatre again although I hope that my comments might help...

Visited last week to see the stylistics and it was the worst experience ever and I will NEVER visit this place again! The security guard on duty was useless, arrogant and rude! My daughter whose autistic so we had accessible seats at the front as we do at concerts we visit regularly was physically attacked by some horrible evil older women who had been causing problems all night with other people in the venue which security did nothing about. My daughter has autism so uses her phone as a comfort thing and other people had phones on too she WAS NOT TAKING PICTURES! She was using the torch as she likes to have something so she feels she's not in complete darkness.

This evil woman purposely got up from her seat and grabbed my daughter and tried to take her phone from her WOW I was mortified and angry! The security guard came over and said what's up I explained to him and he just said to this evil cretin what you doing to which she said nothing! We sat for a few minutes after this but my daughter was too distressed to stay so 25 minutes after the concert started we had to leave and go home. This really got me angry as what a waste of money. Whoever this vile woman is I hope I don't bump into her ever anywhere as my words won't be nice! Who on earth do people think they are? This place definitely needs looking at and new security placing as really she should have been thrown out but no the guard just let it go. I'd definitely think twice if you're going to that place as I'd never entertain it again. The whole experience has put my daughter off going anywhere now as she was very distressed by it all. NOBODY has the rights to put their hands on anyone else's child so alexaandra theatre get these things sorted because someone will take matters into their own hands and violence will definitely occur one time. Upon leaving a female guard asked if we were OK as she'd seen what went on and she admitted this woman was in the wrong but obviously nobody did anything about it so she's allowed to get away with attacking people because she's not happy well don't visit concerts...

This venue really takes you back to 1901, when it was built! (if you're disabled).

Firstly I must say, friendly and courtesy staff, but that's where the polite patter ends for my visit last night.

Imagine visiting the theatre with your friends - perhaps you'll share a pre-show drink and have a lovely evening. Well, don't plan on doing so if any of your party are wheelchair users.

Even though it's 2022, and last night was pouring with rain, upon arrival at the venue, the presence of a wheelchair in our party was greeted with "I'll show you to the other entrance".

Yes, as a wheelchair user, you won't go in with your friends to start your evening and enjoy a pre-show drink, you'll travel another 150 yards (and back to a time when disabled people are hidden away) through the rain-soaked street and in through a side door to be huddled in an oversized broom cupboard for 20+ minutes with all the other wheeled audience members. Aww, bless them, they're so brave..... A sideshow of the unfortunates, with their own special holding place, away from the normal people.

Oh, I'm sure the staff will excuse this victorian tradition of treating disabled people like second class citizens. Probably something to do with not being able to install a small lift, or even a mobile ramp due to planning, but this is utterly inexcusable. A sham and unforgivable. There is always a better solution than this undignified nonsense.

Any venue that feels its permissible to treat people in this way is party to the ever-growing oppression of disabled people that is making their lives increasingly challenging and isolated.

Alexandra - please don't reach for an excuse for the status quo: there isn't one. Please, just take the time to think, adopt some humility and do something about it.

There is a positive though, after a great show from Joe Lycett - and being ushered back through the broom cupboard - you can always meet your friends again on the street outside, perhaps to head to a bar for that drink you'd...