Princess Theatre, Torquay

The Princess Theatre stands on Torbay Road, directly on the Torquay seafront beside Princess Gardens, and is the main receiving house for large-scale touring shows on the English Riviera. Seating 1,514 across two levels, it is owned by Torbay Council and run by ATG Entertainment, with a year-round programme that takes in touring musicals, plays, live music, comedy, ballet, opera, family shows and a much-loved Christmas pantomime. Its seaside setting, easy walk from the town centre and views across Torbay and the marina make it a natural fixture of a South Devon trip as well as a local favourite.

The Princess Theatre opened on Wednesday 7 June 1961, with Tommy Cooper and Morecambe and Wise topping the bill on the first night. It was built by Torbay Council as the centrepiece of the redevelopment of the Princess Gardens area on the Torquay seafront.

Before the theatre existed, light entertainment in this part of Torquay was housed in a marquee put up fresh each year. The new building gave the resort a permanent home for its shows and immediately became part of the seaside summer tradition of variety and family entertainment.

Those summer seasons brought a long line of household names to Torbay Road, among them Joe Pasquale, Bradley Walsh, Ken Dodd, Danny La Rue and Jimmy Tarbuck. More recent years have seen comedians including Michael McIntyre, Jack Dee, Katherine Ryan, Dawn French and Russell Howard play the stage, while touring musicians such as Billy Ocean, Paloma Faith, Don McLean, Level 42, Alfie Boe and Blue have appeared as part of UK tours.

As a receiving house the theatre has become a regular stop for major touring productions, with titles such as Chicago, The Play That Goes Wrong, We Will Rock You, Heathers: The Musical, Fawlty Towers: The Play and Six all playing here.

The Princess Theatre aims to remove barriers so that everyone can enjoy a show comfortably. If you need help planning a visit, contact the Accessibility Assistance line on 0333 009 5399 (Typetalk 1800 1 0333 009 5399).

• Entrances: six steps with handrails lead to the main entrance, followed by swing doors into the foyer. A ramp is set to the far right of the doors, near the on-site cafe and bar.
• Box office: on the road side of the building with two flat entrances with heavy swing doors. Automatic doors are to the left of the box office, opened by pressing the red button on the wall. The counter is 90cm high with a writing shelf between the two sales positions.
• Stalls: two sets of double doors lead to the rear of the stalls, which slopes down to the front row with no stairs.
• Circle: reached by lift or 22 steps from the foyer to the circle bar. From the bar, two entrances with double swing doors lead to 11 steps to a centre gangway, then 12 steps down to the front row or 10 steps up to the back row.
• Wheelchair spaces: three spaces for customers remaining in their wheelchair, with carer seats alongside, in front of or behind each space.
• Toilets: fully accessible toilets are reached from the stalls wheelchair spaces through the fire exit, and from the main foyer through the double swing doors to the cafe and bar.
• Legroom: the roomier options are the stalls front row, seats V36 to V42, all side gangway seats and Circle row G.
• Assistance dogs are welcome in all parts of the theatre.
• Hearing and visual support: the venue uses the Mobile Connect system, usable from any seat via the app with your own headphones. BSL interpreted and relaxed performances are scheduled through the year, and audio description and touch tour details are listed on the operator's visual impairment services page.

A free Access Membership Scheme lets you book accessible seats online, book an essential companion ticket if eligible and receive news of access performances.