Accessibility

There are disabled parking spaces in the immediate vicinity of the Schauspielhaus on Prinzenstraße (1), Sophienstraße (2) and Theaterstraße (1). There is accessible parking in the “Tiefgarage Opernplatz/Kröpcke” underground car park. More information on the car park is available to download under this link: Parking. 

The nearest Stadtbahn [light rail] station is “Kröpcke”. It serves all the Stadtbahn lines except for lines 10 and 17 (distance to the Schauspiel approx. 500 m). The nearest bus stop to the Schauspielhaus is “Thielenplatz/Schauspielhaus” (distance to the Schauspiel approx. 200 m). Bus lines 100,121, 128, 134 and 200 stop there. More information on accessible services provided by ÜSTRA [Hanover’s public transport operator] is available under this link: Public transport.

The main entrance to the Schauspiel at Prinzenstraße 9 has step-free access. There is a single automatic door that opens outwards. The box office counter is located on the right-hand side. Because of its height (107 cm), it is not accessible for everyone. The entrance to the cloakroom area is on the left-hand side. If you are entering the Schauspiel across the courtyard, the box office counter is on the left and the cloakroom area on the right.

The staircase is in the centre of the cloakroom area. Behind the staircase there is a counter where you can obtain audio amplification devices. There are a limited number of devices available. Lockers are distributed around the entire cloakroom area; use of the lockers is unassisted. The lift (door width: 80 cm; interior space: 140 x 100 cm) is on the left-hand side at the front of the cloakroom area. The toilets are on the right-hand side. There are accessible WC cubicles in the toilet area. 

The foyer is on the first floor of the Schauspiel. In the foyer there are entrances to the auditorium and the first circle, as well as various seating and standing options. In the middle of the room there is a round, raised area (height: approx. 2 cm) with an adjoining bar (height: 116 cm).

For the duration of Festival Theaterformen 2021, beanbags will be provided as alternative seating options. A relaxed area with beanbags will be set up in the first row for this. Beanbags can be booked in advance as “beanbag tickets” through the box office or online shop.   

On the intermediate level “Rollstuhlloge” [wheelchair loge] there is access to the loge on the right-hand side at the back of the stalls (row 17), where the wheelchair spaces are. In addition, there are several chairs in row 17 with step-free access (chairs 18-24).

Please note: The Cumberland can be accessed either through the box office foyer of the Schauspiel or via the courtyard.

There are disabled parking spaces in the immediate vicinity of the Cumberland theatre on Prinzenstraße (1), Sophienstraße (2) and Theaterstraße (1). There is accessible parking in the “Tiefgarage Opernplatz/Kröpcke” underground car park. More information on the car park is available to download under this link: Parking. 

The nearest Stadtbahn [light rail] station is “Kröpcke”. It serves all the Stadtbahn lines except for lines 10 and 17 (distance to the Schauspiel approx. 500 m). The nearest bus stop to the Schauspielhaus is “Thielenplatz/Schauspielhaus” (distance to the Schauspiel approx. 200 m). Bus lines 100,121, 128, 134 and 200 stop there. More information on accessible services provided by ÜSTRA [Hanover’s public transport operator] is available under this link: Public transport.

The entrance to the theatre is across the courtyard and via a stairway, so it is not step-free access. In addition, on the left- and right-hand sides of the stairway that leads to the Cumberland foyer, there are rainwater gutters that may be confusing for people using canes.      

For anyone who has difficulties walking up steps, there is alternative access via the entrance to the stage in the foyer of the Schauspiel, where there is a lift (door width: 90 cm; interior space: 130 x 150 cm). To help with this, for the duration of Festival Theaterformen 2021, a step-free meeting point will be set up before the performances in the box office foyer of the Schauspiel.      

In the foyer there is a bar with bar tables and different seating options on the entrance level. The foyer and bar are similarly accessible via the entrance to the stage, however they do not have step-free access.

The toilets are on the second floor. There are no accessible toilets and the toilets do not have step-free access. Those who wish to use the accessible toilet in the Schauspiel are advised to allow at least 15 minutes.

The address for Ballhof Eins is Ballhofplatz 5. There are several accessible parking spaces on Burgstraße on the same level as Ballhofplatz. The access to the foyer in Ballhof Eins is step-free via Ballhofplatz. The distance between the parking spaces and the foyer is approx. 70 m.   

The nearest Stadtbahn [light rail] station is “Markthalle/Landtag” (distance to Ballhof Eins approx. 450 m). It serves lines 3, 7 and 9. More information on accessible services provided by ÜSTRA [Hanover’s public transport operator] is available under this link: Public transport.

Entrance to the Ballhof Eins foyer is via a double-wing door. In the foyer there are several bar tables, two box office counters and a bar area for purchasing drinks. There are further seating options here. The bar area is accessed via three steps from the foyer.  

In Ballhof Eins there is a rostrum. Entry is generally via a door leading directly to the rostrum. The first row has step-free access. There are no tactile borders on the rostrum indicating where the steps are for people using canes.

The cloakrooms and toilets are in the basement, which is only accessible via a staircase with many steps.

The accessible toilet is on the right-hand side at the end of the corridor, where there are several entrances to the auditorium on the left-hand side. Users first of all enter an anteroom with a washbasin via a non-automatic door (width: 95 cm). The cubicle is connected to the anteroom by an arched doorway (no door, width: 95 cm).  

The address for Ballhof Zwei is Knochenhauerstraße 28. There are several accessible parking spaces on Burgstraße on the same level as Ballhofplatz. The access to the foyer in Ballhof Zwei is step-free via Ballhofplatz. The distance between the parking spaces and the foyer is approx. 150 m.

The nearest Stadtbahn [light rail] station is “Markthalle/Landtag” (distance to Ballhof Zwei approx. 450 m). It serves lines 3, 7 and 9. More information on accessible services provided by ÜSTRA [Hanover’s public transport operator] is available under this link: Public transport.

The Ballhof Zwei foyer is divided into two areas. One of the two areas is the Ballhof Café. Here, there is a bar as well as various seating and standing options. In the other area there is the box office counter (height: 75 cm), the toilets, and access to the stage. The Ballhof Café is accessed via a non-automatic, 80 cm-wide door. Both areas are separated from one another by a rostrum with steps. In the Ballhof Café there is a bar on a rostrum with no step-free access. The bar sells drinks and snacks.

The WCs can be accessed via either a ramp or steps. A light strip runs along the steps, providing visual marking. The accessible WC is on the right next to the gender free toilets in the foyer. Between the accessible toilets there are coat hooks placed at two different heights.

There is a lift (width: 80 cm; interior space: 138 cm x 155 cm) that connects the Ballhof Zwei foyer with the auditorium. The lift takes you to a staircase that is connected to the auditorium by a door. This door (width: 110 cm) has a door handle, is not automatic, and does not lock in place.

For the duration of Theaterformen 2021, the first row will be set up as a relaxed area with a mix of beanbags and wheelchair spaces. These spaces can be booked in advance as “beanbag tickets” or “wheelchair tickets” through the box office or online shop.  

The Raschplatzhochstraße is located directly behind Hannover Main Station. There are various parking facilities around Raschplatz, for example the Lister Tor multi-storey car park, the multi-storey car park at the main railway station, the Rundestraße car park (CONTIPARK). There are several barrier-free parking spaces available in all of the aforementioned multi-storey car parks. The Raschplatzhochstraße itself will not be accessible to cars during the festival period and will only be accessible to pedestrians via Berliner Allee.

Distanz vom unteren Ende der Brücke (Berliner Allee) bis zum Stadtlabor auf der Raschplatzhochbrücke ca. 300m.

The nearest station of the city railway is "Hauptbahnhof" (main train station) and it is reachable using the lines 1,2, 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10. The Central Bus Station (ZOB) is also located here and is served by lines 134, 300, 500, 700 and 900. More information on accessible services provided by ÜSTRA [Hanover’s public transport operator] is available under this link: Public transport.

Distance from the main station/ZOB to the city laboratory on the Raschplatzhochbrücke across Berliner Allee approx. 800m.

There is a free shuttle service from the U1 level of the Raschplatz at the rear entrance of the main station up to the Raschplatzhochstraße. Both stops are marked with a sign and are continuously attended by a staff member.

The shuttle bus is for all people for whom the walk up to the Stadtlabor represents a barrier (e.g. people with mobility impairments and people with visible and/or invisible disabilities), as well as their companions. There is no obligation to provide proof for a disabilty. The shuttle bus can carry up to 3 people in wheelchairs and 5 people in car seats at the same time. 

Hygiene information: The drivers of the shuttle bus as well as the passengers are obliged to wear mouth and nose protection (surgical or FFP2 mask) during the journey. Regular ventilation will be provided and all surfaces inside the vehicle will be regularly disinfected. 

Departure times: The shuttle leaves every half hour at the bottom of the Raschplatz, up to Stadtlabor (first departure: 11.30 am / last departure: 10.30 pm).The shuttle leaves every full hour at the top of Stadtlabor, down to the Raschplatz (first departure: 12 am / last departure: 11 pm).

In front of the entrance to the Stadtlabor are the ticket booth and the information booth (exact dimensions of the counter heights follow).

The entrance and exit areas to the event area are each 2.50 m wide. The area is accessible barrier-free via a ramp. 

The "communal area" (approx. 160 m2) begins directly behind the entrance. This is where the kitchen is located, food and drinks are available, and there is a large area with tables and chairs. There are also two workshop areas that can be used differently depending on the programme. In the social area, the audio and video works of various artists* are exhibited.

In the "experimental area" (approx. 250 m2), different programmes take place: Workshops, concerts, readings, discussions and much more. The seating and furnishings will vary depending on the programme.

There are so-called "quiet ramps" at both ends of the Stadtlabor. The ramps (each approx. 75 m2) are slightly sloping, the area starts at ground level, at the highest point they are 1 metre high. Various seating and lounging options are available here, including beanbags and yoga mats.

Note: we are located in the middle of Hanover's city centre. The Stadtlabor is surrounded by a constant urban soundscape (cars, passers-by, etc.). The quiet ramps invite you to relax physically, but there is no protection against noise. Ear protectors (Oropax) are available at the information booth.

There is a barrier-free composting toilet. The interior is 2.5 x 2.5 metres and accessible at ground level. The roof is transparent, which means daylight inside during the day, and LED lighting as soon as it gets dark. All toilets, including the non-accessible ones, are unisex, i.e. not segregated by gender.

Beanbags and yoga mats are available in the relaxation area. All visitors are free to choose from all available seating and reclining options. If there is no suitable seating or reclining option available for you, please ask the staff present.

Tactile maps will be available at the shuttle stops and at the information booth so that blind and visually impaired people can find out about the event area in advance.

In order to create an environment that is as suitable as possible for the blind and visually impaired, tactile floor marking tape will be applied from the entrance onwards. The guidance system leads from the entrance across the communal area and around the experimental area to the toilets and back to the exit. At the resting ramps, the kitchen and the emergency exit, signal fields will mark the locations accordingly.

If a disabled person is dependent on an companion, the ticket fees will be waived for them. In this case, please book the "Accompanying person" discount at eventim or indicate your need at the box office. There is no obligation to provide proof (e.g. a severely disabled person's ID).