Accessibility

Venue Location

The Patrick Studio

The Birmingham Hippodrome is the home of the VERVE events during the VERVE/CSL Festival.

For accessibility info for the CSL events at the PoliNations stage check out their Page.

The Patrick Studio reception can be reached step-free from either entrance to the Hippodrome, but we recommend using the entrance on Thorp Street for easiest access to the festival.

Thorp Street

The entrance on Thorp Street will be the main entrance for visitors to Verve. There are two automatic doors that are street level and lead into a foyer.

The Patrick Studio is on the ground level.

This entrance is fully wheelchair accessible.

Please do not hesitate to ask a member of the Hippodrome staff for help or directions to the Patrick Studio if you need further assistance.

Further Information

Events

Most of our events will be taking place in the Patrick Studio.

There is step-free access into the auditorium from the festival foyer. Seating in the Patrick Studio will consist of both flat-floor and raked seating, with wheelchair positions available at the front. There is no limit on attendance for wheelchair users.

Carers/those accompanying a person in a wheelchair are eligible for a complimentary ticket to sit next to the wheelchair user. To reserve your complimentary ticket, email lizzie@vervepoetryfestival.com with the name your paid ticket is under and the name you’d like your complimentary ticket reserved under.

 

Workshops 

All six of our brilliant workshops are available in person and on a different date in zoom form. All of our main events, except for the bookfair, will also be live-streamed on Youtube.

There will be three workshop rooms during the festival.

Two of the workshop rooms can be found on the ground level and can be accessed, step-free via the foyer.

The third workshop room can be accessed step-free via the lift, available from the foyer.

Each workshop room has a private bathroom off of the room, alternative toilet facilities are available on the same level as the room. These can be found by turning right as you exit the room.

Booking Tickets

Tickets for all VERVE online workshops and streams can be booked through our Eventbrite. All other festival events can be booked through the Contains Strong Language website . Tickets will also be available on the door for many events. 

Parking

Limited disabled parking is available on Hurst Street and Thorp Street. The Arcadian Centre Car Park has specially allocated bays with easy access to street level and only about 150 yds to our entrance.

Wheelchair users and patrons with impaired mobility may prefer to use Thorp Street car park directly opposite our stage door which provide the easiest access to the theatre.

BSL Interpretation

We’ve organised BSL Interpretation for our Patrick Studio events:

  • Live R4 Front Row
  • Sizwe Banzi is Dead
  • Start the Week
  • The Essay
  • Across Borders: Poems from the Commonwealth
  • The Essay
  • Fred D’Aguiar & Linton Kwesi Johnson Feature Performance
  • The Verb: Laurel Special
  • Soweto Kinch: White Juju
  • BBC Writersroom Session: Who we are and what we do
  • Free Thinking
  • Verve Press 5th Birthday
  • Language is a Queer Thing Showcase
  • BBC 1Xtra: Words First Talent Showcase
  • The Verb: Apples & Snakes 40th Celebration
  • Cerys Matthews: Live
  • The Verb: Across Borders & Language is a Queer Thing Celebration
  • CSL Live
  • Words and Music 

Toilets

Accessible unisex and ambulant disabled toilets are available on all levels, plus low-level counter service.

Further Requirements

Please let us know via the contact form below if you have any specific requirements that need accommodating or if you have any further questions about accessibility.

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