This accessibility statement applies to rsc.org.uk

This website is run by the Royal Shakespeare Company. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

• Change colours, contrast levels and fonts
• Navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
• Navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
• Listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)

We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible is this website?

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:

• Content cannot be resized to 200% and not all text resizes when adjusting browser font size
• Our site is difficult to navigate using just a keyboard
• Videos don’t include audio description or BSL
• Image galleries are not accessible to screen reader users which makes them difficult to explore

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

We’re working on integrating TNEW v7 into our website for 2024. This will improve the way you buy tickets on our websites, from the point you leave our What’s On page. From this point the site will be keyboard accessible and it will be always possible to see which elements on the page are currently in focus. The Select Your Own Seat function won’t be entirely accessible at this point, but that will be addressed in the next version of TNEW.

Additionally, we will:

• Add alternative text to all images where the markup allows
• Provide all new images with a title in text, to ensure they are screen reader accessible
• Where headings are added manually on new pages, ensure they are always used in the correct order

We are planning a 2025 redevelopment of our website, for which we will work to resolve all the issues below. 

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format, such as like accessible PDF, large print, easy read or audio recording email feedback@rsc.org.uk or call our Box Office on 01789 331111. We’ll consider your request and get back to you within 28 days.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, email feedback@rsc.org.uk or call 01789 296655.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Equality Act 2010, which covers accessibility of websites. If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person

You can contact our Box Office team on 01789 331111, from midday to 6pm (UK time) Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays. You can also email the Box Office at tickets@rsc.org.uk 

Audio enhancement is permanently fitted in all our theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon - the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the Swan Theatre and The Other Place. It is also fitted at the Box Office, shop, cloakroom at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and at the welcome desk, Susie's Cafe Bar and the Box Office at The Other Place. Press your hearing aid to the 'T' position to be able to hear more clearly.

We have wheelchair seats for all our shows, lift access to all levels of our theatres and we keep front row seats free for people who have difficulties seeing or hearing.

We run assisted performances for all our shows, and also offer Touch Tours ahead of audio-described performances. These give you the opportunity to experience the set, costumes and props used in the play.  

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

We are committed to making our website accessible, to use inclusive best practices, and to support disability governance that requires websites to be accessible.

Compliance status

This website is not compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard. The non-compliances and exemptions are listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Text alternative to images

Some images do not have a text alternative, so people using a screen reader cannot access the information. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 (non-text content).

We are working to add alternative text to all images where the markup allows. The site markup was built so that some images and their alternative text (eg. in galleries) are invisible to users of assistive technologies. We are planning a 2025 redevelopment of our website which will include alt text on all images visible to users of assistive technologies.

Keyboard accessibility

The RSC website, including the main navigation menu, is not keyboard accessible, so keyboard-only users aren’t able to move through the site easily. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.1.1 (keyboard). This will be partly addressed in the 2024 changes, when this has happened the journey to buying tickets, from the What’s On to the basket and completion of sale will be keyboard-accessible. The navigation will be resolved in the 2025 redevelopment.

Visible focus

When using a keyboard to navigate through the website, it's not always possible to see which elements on the page are currently in focus. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.7 (focus visible). This will be partly addressed in the 2024 changes and fully resolved in the 2025 redevelopment.

Headings

There are instances throughout our website where headings do not follow an order or hierarchy. This reduces navigation options for screen reader users.

Where headings are added manually, we are working to ensure they are always used in the correct order. The 2025 redevelopment will include correct use of headings to improve navigation options for screen reader users.

Increasing font size

The RSC site currently allows users to increase their font size via their browser settings, however there are bugs introduced on the site when doing so. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.4 (resize text). This will be addressed in the 2025 redevelopment of our website.

Images of text

The What’s On in some cases displays titles only within images, so they can’t be read by screenreaders. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.5 (images of text). All new images will be provided with a title in text.

Use of colour

Some aspects of the seat plan, pricing and seat legend are not perceivable to all users, including blind, visually impaired and colour blind users. They include seat prices, sold out price zones and additional information such as restricted view. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.1 (use of colour). This will be fixed in 2024 when the RSC website purchase path is updated.

Colour contrast

Some areas of the website, such as the implementation of breadcrumbs, have insufficient colour contrast between the background colour and the foreground (text) colour. This fails WCAG 2.1. success criterion 1.4.3 Contrast (minimum) and WCAG 2.1. success criterion 1.4.6 Contrast (enhanced).

This also prevents some users from knowing where in the site they are which would prevent this implementation of WCAG 2.1 success criteria 2.4.8 Location working for some users.

Alternative formats

Some videos on the website do not offer audio description or transcripts. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criteria 1.2.1 Audio only and video only (prerecorded), 1.2.3 Audio description or media alternative and 1.2.5 Audio description (prerecorded).

Resize text

It is not possible to resize all text on the website. This fails to meet WCAG 2.1 success criteria 1.4.4 Resize text.