Audiences Get a Grip at the Tabard Theatre

New handrails installed ahead of a busy Spring season


The new handrails will help people negotiate the steep steps. Picture: Tabard Theatre

April 20, 2026

Audiences visiting the theatre this spring will find it easier to navigate the auditorium thanks to the installation of new handrails along the venue’s notably steep steps. The improvement, completed last Monday (13 April), marks an important step in the theatre’s ongoing effort to make the space more accessible and welcoming for all visitors.

The project has been made possible by the generosity of the theatre’s supporters. Special thanks have been extended to Harriet Benton and Alan Weavis, whose wedding guests contributed towards the cost of the new handrails, as well as to the many audience members who donate when booking tickets or support the theatre through membership schemes.

For many regulars, the steep rake of the auditorium has long been part of the theatre’s character — but also a challenge. The new handrails will allow those who find steps difficult to access a wider range of seating, opening up more of the auditorium to people who previously felt limited in where they could sit. At the same time, the theatre took the opportunity to replace the carpet, giving the space a much-needed refresh.

The improvements arrive just as the Tabard prepares for a busy run of productions. Masterclass, directed by Tim Connery, continues through 15 April to 2 May, having received glowing reviews.

In May, the theatre welcomes a major new staging of H.M.S. Pinafore, running from 6 May to 6 June, bringing Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera to life for a new generation of audiences. Later in the month, Heather Alexander presents Havisham on Sunday 17 May, a solo performance inspired by Dickens’ iconic character. June will see the arrival of Murder Staged by Crime Viral on Sunday 28 June, offering true - crime enthusiasts a gripping afternoon event.

The theatre’s team says the upgrade is part of a wider commitment to improving the building for future generations. Recent front-of-house redecoration has already brightened the public areas, and plans are underway to upgrade lighting equipment and reduce the venue’s environmental impact.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who supports the theatre,” the team said. “Your contributions, of all sizes, help us keep the theatre running with a full programme of high-quality shows, and they make improvements like these possible. There is still more work ahead, but every donation and every membership helps us continue to enhance and revitalise the space.”

Audience members are encouraged to consider adding a donation when booking tickets or joining one of the theatre’s membership schemes to support the next phase of improvements.

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