Visit Us
Accessibility
A place where music is for everyone.
To help you make the most of your experience with us, we have created a range of access resources. These include videos, social scripts, venue maps and podcasts to assist patrons in familiarising themselves with the Centre before arrival and during their visit.
If you have any questions or need help, you can contact our Box Office team on 03 9699 3333 or by emailing boxoffice@melbournerecital.com.au.
Many of the downloadable PDFs on this page can be made available in Word. Please contact us via learning@melbournerecital.com.au should you require this information in an alternative format.
Venue Accessibility
Lift & Escalators
Lift access is available to all foyer levels of the building and all backstage areas (except the Orchestra Pit). Escalator access is also available between Ground Level and foyer Level 1.
Accessible Toilets
There are accessible toilets located on all foyer levels and backstage areas of the Centre. Ambulant toilets are also available on the Ground Floor and Level 2. Please ask our venue staff for assistance in locating the one nearest to your seating or working location.
Accessible Parking
Accessible car spaces are available throughout the Melbourne Arts Precinct. Currently there are spaces located at the Arts Centre Melbourne car park, on Dodds Street near the Melbourne Theatre Company, along Sturt Street outside Linear Park, and along Grant Street. A drop off bay is available just outside of the Melbourne Recital Centre Sturt Street entrance.
Guide Dogs
Melbourne Recital Centre welcomes all visitors with assistance animals (such as guide dogs) certified by a registered authority. Please inform our Ticketing Services team, when making your booking over the phone or in person or email boxoffice@melbournerecital.com.au in advance of your visit the Centre.
Companion Cards
Melbourne Recital Centre is pleased to accept the Companion Card for all visitors with a disability, who require a companion at all Melbourne Recital Centre events, upon presentation of a valid Companion Card at the time of booking. For more information on the companion Card program and to apply please visit companioncard.vic.gov.au. All companion card bookings must be made by calling our Box Office team.
Signage
Key service signage located around the venue are also presented in Braille.
Assistive Hearing / Hearing Loop
For amplified performances, patrons who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing and who have a hearing aid may wish to utilise our hearing loop system.
The Centre has an Ampetronic Induction Loop, designed to transmit audio directly into a hearing aid.
Please switch your hearing aid to the ‘T’ position to access this service.
In Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, the hearing loop is available in the Stalls Row A to Stalls Row U. No receiver is required as your hearing aid will connect directly once in the ‘T’ position.
In the Primrose Potter Salon, the hearing loop requires a receiver. You can collect one of these from the Front of House team on entry to the venue.
Please note that our hearing loop is designed for use with hearing aids, we do not have headphones available for use in Elisabeth Murdoch Hall.
Access in Elisabeth Murdoch Hall
Stalls – Level 1: The front three rows of the Stalls [AA – CC] are removed when the orchestra pit or stage extension is in use. Row AA to row B are level to the ground. From row C, the seating gently rakes upwards to row K, then is stepped to row U, which is level with entry Doors 2 and 3. Rows R-U are underneath the Circle level. The height of the stage from the floor of the stalls is approximately one metre.
Circle & Wings – Level 2: The Circle has a central body of seats stepped upwards from row A. Row A is level with entry Doors 5 and 6. The side sections of the Circle, known as the East and West Wings respectively, have a lower and an upper level on each side. The front row of the Circle sits above row R of the Stalls. In the Upper Wings, seats 11 – 15 are level with entry Doors 5 and 6.
Easy Access Seating & Wheelchair Spaces
For the convenience of patrons who have restricted mobility but do not require the use of a wheelchair, Melbourne Recital Centre has identified locations within the auditorium where patrons do not need to use stairs to reach their seats. These seats are located in row U of the Stalls, row A of the Circle, and seats 11-15 of both upper wings. Accessible seating in the wings are also wider and have articulated, raising arm-rests.
Wheelchair accessible spaces are located in Stalls Row U and the Upper East and Upper West Wings, all with Companion seating available. All seating and wheelchair spaces can be booked through all sales channels, including through this website.
Access in Primrose Potter Salon
The Primrose Potter Salon is a flat floor space, located on Ground / Street Level. For most events, the auditorium contains no stairs, however for some cabaret style events, there may be one step required to access certain tables towards the back.
All events are general admission. Please advise the Box Office of any special access requirements when booking.
Seats on an aisle generally have an armrest attached and Wheelchair spaces are available in areas that do not restrict the view of other audience members. Access to dressing rooms contains no stairs and dressing rooms are located within 20 metres of the auditorium.
Access Resources
Welcome to the Centre Guide & Podcast
Especially designed to describe a visit to the Centre and provide an access guide, the Welcome to the Centre podcast is divided into chapters so you can skip to the information you need.
The podcast covers these topics:
- Introduction
- Contents
- Getting to Melbourne Recital Centre
- General accessibility information
- Buying a ticket
- Access to Elisabeth Murdoch Hall
- Access to Primrose Potter Salon
- Toilets and Level access
- What to do if you have questions or need assistance
You can also view our Welcome to the Centre podcast script in large print PDF in the Downloads section at the bottom of this page. The script is available in the following languages, which you can also download as a PDF below.
Social Script for attending an event
This Social Script is a step-by-step guide to coming to events at Melbourne Recital Centre. It may be useful for people with Autism, learning disabilities or sensory sensitivities. The script will help you to understand what will happen once you arrive at the Centre.
The Social Script is available for download at the bottom of this page.
Communication Boards & Picture Cards
If you need help with asking questions at the Box Office, Stage Door or Foyer Bar at Melbourne Recital Centre, there is a communication board for your use. Our Ushers carry small Picture Cards if you need assistance with communication.
You can download the following Communication Board and Picture Cards at the bottom of this page.
- Alphabet Communication Board
- Bar Communication Board
- Box Office Communication Board
- Money Communication Board
- Lanyard Picture Cards
Large Print Venue Map
These large print venue maps will help you find your way around the Centre.
You can download the following Large Print Venue Maps at the bottom of this page.
- Ground Floor
- Level 1
- Level 2