Due to it’s ground floor location Studio 3 is more accessible but unfortunately it does not have suspension points. As such, any events involving suspension will take place in Studio 1.
We are new to using Studio 3 and we will continue to update this guide as we get settled in and work things out.
Getting inside
Inside the courtyard, the entrance is through the first door on the right. There is one low step on the way into the building, but after that the studio is step-free. There is a removable ramp available, which we will set up for the duration of our events to provide step-free access throughout. We haven’t had any issues with the ramp being removed yet, but if it’s not in place you can contact us on 07990496691 and we will assist.
The room we use is through the first door on the left after entering the building.
Before entering you will be required to take off your shoes to access most of the floor area, as it is covered in specialist flooring. Please speak to us in advance if you think this might be an issue. A shoe rack is provided outside the door. There are no coat hooks inside the space, but there are plenty of railings/ballet barres all around, and we found that they work very well for hanging coats over.
Seating
The event takes place on mats on the floor. There are also chairs available if you need one – we are happy to move one out of the corner for you, just ask. We need to be mindful of the dance floor, so we ask that you place the chair on one of our mats to protect the floor against scratches.
Facilities
There are two toilets private to Studio 3 at the back of the room. For the duration of our event both toilets are gender neutral. They are fully separate, not stalls. Each one contains a toilet, a small sink, a wall mounted mirror, a paper towel dispenser and a bin. They are quite small and narrow, and would pose difficulty for anyone in a wheelchair or anyone who requires a second person for assistance.
There is a disabled toilet available in the Mabgate Mills complex, in Mill 1 – this requires leaving our space and going across the courtyard. We hope to provide more information about this toilet soon.
There are no Changing Places toilets in the vicinity. The nearest one is at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UP.
Food and drink
We are an alcohol free event – beyond that you are welcome to bring any food and drink you may like with you. There is a small kitchenette within the studio and we provide a selection of free tea, coffee and biscuits. This includes caffeine-free options and dairy-free alternatives. The kitchenette contains a sink, kettle, mugs and plastic cups.
There is a larger kitchen which our attendees can use located within the Dance Studio, but this requires going outside and up a flight of stairs. It contains a sink, kettle, microwave, fridge, toaster, an electric boiling water dispenser, mugs and plastic cups and a selection of cutlery. There are two sofas and a coffee table and a counter with high bar chairs in the room. The kitchen is located near Studio 1, straight ahead through a narrow corridor as you come up the stairs. If you cannot get to the kitchen yourself but would like to use the facilities, such as putting something in the fridge for the duration of our event, please let one of the crew know and we will be happy to help.
Quiet spaces
We rent a single room from the Dance Studio so we cannot guarantee a quiet space. Within Studio 3, you may wish to use the kitchenette space which is located in a separate room but not behind a door, or go outside for a breath of fresh air. There are more spaces available near Studio 1, but none of these are guaranteed to be quiet either.
Access for D/deaf, hard of hearing and sound sensitive people
There is less noise coming from other spaces in Studio 3 as compared to Studio 1, as we are not directly sharing a wall with other studios. However, other spaces within the Mabgate Mills complex are used for band rehearsals and similar activity making the courtyard very noisy at times, and when that happens the sound can be heard inside our studio, though dampened and quieter.
Access for Blind, visually impaired and light-sensitive people
ROH – workshop events
The room is lit brightly with uncovered fluorescent lights. They do not tend to flicker, but we cannot guarantee that they are fully flicker free. One of the walls is lined with tall windows. The windows have white blinds which we will keep closed for privacy. They will also stop direct sunlight but will allow light through.
RopeSpace – play events
We typically turn off the overhead lights in favour of mood lighting provided by standing lamps and (many, many) fairy lights. If you have any concerns about this or might require additional lighting please message us at least a week before the event and we can discuss arrangements. Studio 3 might stay bright for RopeSpace during Summer months due to the windows – we will update this information after we figure out the logistics.
Other access information
There are standard heaters in the room and in the winter the temperature is stable and comfortable. We suspect the room might get quite hot in the summer due to large windows and lack of insulation – we will update this information when we find out.
If you need any additional information, or have any questions or concerns please use the contact box on the main page or email us at ropeofficehours@gmail.com and we will respond as soon as we can. We are also more than happy to make any adjustments we realistically can so please do get in touch if there is anything we can do to make your time with us easier, or possible for that matter.
If you feel like there is something that is not included in this guide but should be, please message us and we will work on adding that information.
This writing was put together by ROH crew with help from Ellen Murray’s Accessibility guide and disabled attendees.
Last updated 10/02/2023