Hackney Empire

The theatre is at 291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ, in the middle of Hackney rather than the West End, and the Overground is the way in: Hackney Central is a few minutes' walk, with Hackney Downs close by as well. Buses along Mare Street are plentiful. There is no Underground station nearby, so allow for the change onto the Overground when you work out your journey — the front of the building, all terracotta and domes, is unmistakable once you are on the street.

Better than most theatres of its age, because there is a lift to every level. The Mare Street entrance gives step-free access to the front Stalls, and the Wilton Way entrance takes you step-free to the lift. Seven wheelchair spaces sit in the rear Stalls, with further spaces in the Dress Circle boxes J and K reached by lift; the Upper Circle and Gallery have none. If you are using the stairs, count on 25 steps to the Dress Circle, 52 to the Upper Circle and 87 to the Gallery. Accessible toilets are on every level, handrails run throughout, and assisted listening comes through the Sennheiser Mobile Connect app on your own phone, so bring headphones. Gallery seating is benches, which will not suit anyone who needs back support.

One on every level, each selling drinks and snacks, so there is no need to walk down two flights in the interval. The doors open early enough to have a drink before the show rather than queue in the twenty minutes between the acts — the Dress Circle bar is the one worth finding if you want to look at the building while you drink.