Access

We are offering basic (non-live) captioning at all play readings and keynote speeches at Stage@TheDock over the weekend following a successful trial in 2025.

Audience members who benefit from following the performance in written form will be seated near the screen in the first few rows.

Please make a note in the access requirement box when booking tickets, as well as let staff on the door know you require screen visibility.

Essential companion tickets are available for those who require one. There is a free, no-questions-asked, additional ticket available for any disabled audience member attending a paid event who requires an essential companion.

You can select a companion ticket when booking online. These are only available with another paid ticket.

There will be minimal stage lighting used to light performers in the marquee on Stage@TheDock and on stage at Middle Child, with no strobe effects.

Whilst there are no specific ‘relaxed performances’ of the sharings, rehearsed readings (script-in-hand performances) are relaxed by design, with actors reading from scripts and no set, music or costume.

Audience members can leave any space if they need to, at any time. This applies to all events across the festival.

All events at Stage@TheDock and Middle Child will see participants and performers use microphones.

All talks at Pier Street will be delivered through a microphone.

An induction loop for hearing aids will also be available for events at Stage@TheDock.

Festival toilets are available at both Bert’s and Nibble, by Stage@TheDock.

Bert’s includes an accessible toilet with a shower, open:

• Saturday, 11.00am-8.30pm

• Sunday, 11.00am-7.30pm

Nibble includes an accessible toilet with ramp access and baby changing facilities. Fresh Ink visitors will have access to the toilets at Nibble outside of the below opening times:

• Saturday, 9.00am-4.00pm

• Sunday, 9.00am-4.00pm

Please see a Fresh Ink volunteer or staff member if Nibble is closed to gain access.

An accessible toilet is available at Pier Street and Middle Child from 9.30am-7.30pm each day.

The Pop-Up Space at 1-2 Pier Street hosts all of the How to… workshops and How I… talks. It is an indoor space.  Access is through a glass door.

Although there is level access from the street to the main entrance, please note that there is a ramp immediately behind the door, leading into the space.  You may require assistance here.

The floor area is concrete and level throughout.

There is an accessible toilet located towards the back of the room.

Stage@TheDock hosts all of the play readings. It is an outside theatre space, like an amphitheatre, with a sunken stage area and wooden block seats at the front.

For Fresh Ink, a marquee is erected on the stage, with standard seating inside. This means that the festival can continue, even if it rains.

Seats can be removed to accommodate wheelchair users.

Access to the marquee is via a flight of steps running from ground level, down to stage level. There are two flights of 20 steps with handrails running down the middle. The minimum width of the steps is 24cms.

The marquee can also be accessed via a lift. This is located on the right side of the stage (as you look at it). There is a small ramp into and out of the lift. The door to the lift is heavy, so you may need someone to assist you with this.

Stage@TheDock and the area surrounding it is made of planks of timber. Whilst level, there are gaps in between the planks of around 2.5cms in some cases. 

As well as the marquee, the ticket office and bar is at stage level.

There will be volunteers present around Stage@TheDock to help you and answer any questions you may have.

69 Humber Street is a 65-seater studio theatre, library and workshop space. All public events take place on the ground floor, which is a single, open plan room.

Four toilets, including one accessible toilet, are beneath the seating bank at the rear of the theatre.

The accessible toilet features a full-length mirror and support handles to assist with standing and transfers.

Seats are 43cm wide by 43cm deep, separated by a wooden armrest 6cm wide. They are approximately 42cm above the floor.

Legroom is approximately 25cm, while seats C8 and D10 have additional legroom.

The quickest way to get between the venues is via Humber Street.

From Stage@TheDock, you will need to cross Queen Street. There is no pedestrian crossing here, but there are level kerbs.

Humber Street is pedestrianised, so no vehicles can drive down here.

The road is made of cobbles, but there are reasonably well-paved, level pavements at either side. Please note that some businesses may use the pavement area for seating or displays, which makes the pavement narrower in places.

There are paved ‘crossing points’ to make it easier for people to cross the cobbles.

Stage@TheDock is at the east end of Humber Street and 1-2 Pier Street and Middle Child is at the west end. See the map on the Getting Here page.