In the last few weeks, I have been to the theatre as a Carer for a Wheelchair user. On two of these occasions, there have been other patrons have been sat in my seat.
I am not complain by any means but the Carers seat is usually a seat that is just added in there and not a normal theatre seat, so it is never comfortable and not a seat I would choose.
The first occasion was a couple of weeks ago. We arrived at the Kit Kat Club, where there is a wheelchair space and an old wooden chair for the Carer with the wheelchair user. There are no other seats near them so it isn’t a case of just sitting in the wrong seat. There is only one seat and nothing else. When we arrived there was a man sat in the seat. I said excuse me you are sat in my seat but he just remained in the seat. My husband positioned himself in the wheelchair area, at the other side of the table, and a staff member had to come and ask the man to move. He went right to the back of the auditorium, so it was a case he saw an empty seat and sat in it.
That wasn’t the end of the problem. We both went out to the Access Toilet. in the interval. and came back to find, although we had drinks delivered, the man was there again, We had a drink and an ice-cream and left them on our table. This time I had had enough and the sound of my voice soon got him to move. The staff brought us new drinks, as we had no idea what he had done whilst sat there.
This week we visited the Young Vic. I got my husband’s wheelchair in position and came back to him with drinks and someone was sat in my seat. She knew the seat wasn’t her seat but refused to move. I had to go back out for something else and I knew the Usher had called the Manager. Thankfully by the time I arrived back she had left and I took my seat. However, my husband was scared to let me move, so I didn’t have a drink. a programme or use the toilet, as I had to occupy my seat. I did leave it in the interval and returned back first I am pleased to say.
Please remember if someone is with a wheelchair user, they need to sit with them. The may need to get them a drink, provide medication or take them to the toilet, so unless you are prepared to do all that leave the seat free and to be honest if you were wanting to do that for a stranger you would be pretty weird.
