Loading ...I very rarely get upset. But today, when trying to book tickets for Phantom of the Opera at Auckland’s Civic Theatre, the disabled seating “policy” employed by The Edge pushed me to my limit, and I decided to pen this letter to try and get them to change what is an offensive, discriminatory, and utterly incomprehensible disabled seating arrangement. I’ve spoken about this before, but this time I’m going to do something about it. Read on, and leave your thoughts below. Maybe I’m being unreasonable? Let me know!
Letter to The Edge regarding their discriminatory wheelchair seating policy at The Civic
To whom it may concern,
Today I rang The Edge ticketing office to book tickets to Phantom of the Opera in October. I wanted to book three tickets; one for myself, in a wheelchair, and two more for my Mum and my sister, only to be told that I would only be able to sit with one ‘companion’ - the other would have to sit somewhere else in the theatre. I was shocked to learn this, and asked the operator if this was due to physical impracticalities/theatre limitations, only to be told that no, it’s simply The Edge’s policy that someone in a wheelchair should only be allowed to sit with one other person.
This is absolutely absurd. Imagine going to a show and being told you can only sit with one other person, and the rest of your family would have to sit somewhere else. Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? And yet that’s exactly the ultimatum I’m being delivered here.
Not only is it blatant discrimination but also downright offensive. The contact centre staff told me that 5 days before the show, the wheelchair spaces are in fact replaced with normal seats, so it is quite possible for The Edge to fulfil my request to let me sit with the rest of my family, but they are deliberately choosing to deny me that same right afforded to every other able-bodied theatre patron.
All I want to do is go to see Phantom of the Opera and sit next to my family. Is that asking so much? Yet this incomprehensible seating policy is preventing me from doing so.
I am asking you to please reconsider this discriminatory practice and allow me to sit next to more than one person, just like everyone else. Other entertainment venues like the Vector Arena have no issue with such requests.
You can contact me via this email address or on my cellphone, 021 779 089.
Regards,
Red Nicholson
11 responses so far ↓
1 Matt // Aug 3, 2008 at 11:48 am
Go to Fair Go! Think businesses forget that we are consumers and not ’special’ people that they have to cater for! Would they treat other sections of the population, such as the moari section or the professionals under 30 section. Good luck, Red
2 Rachel // Aug 3, 2008 at 12:22 pm
You are in no way being unreasonable! I HATE this kind of stuff. Fair Go could be a good option also. I can’t wait to see their response to this
3 caren // Aug 3, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I aggree with you. This is not on. Go for it. I am one hundred percent behind you
4 Allyson // Aug 3, 2008 at 3:49 pm
You could take this issue to the Human Rights Commission (www.hrc.co.nz) .
5 Jenny // Aug 3, 2008 at 9:27 pm
That sux!!! It’s about time these places including the Cinemas have more respect for the disabled persons and allow them to be with there family and friends when at a theatre or a movie. I’ve had a similar situation when I was going to the IMAX to see LOTR’s, with my brother and his wife. I too think you should go to Fair Go
6 Caz // Aug 4, 2008 at 9:22 am
I agree with Allyson, Red this is a Human Rights issue.
7 Nik // Aug 4, 2008 at 9:36 am
I totally agree, this is blatant discrimination, and is not on! People who have disabilities are no different to those that are able bodied, yet are discriminated against and told we ‘can’t do stuff’ almost every day! Good on you Red, go for it!
8 Matt // Aug 4, 2008 at 7:28 pm
The Human Rights Commission is a long drawn out process with mixed results. Speaking from experience
9 Caz // Aug 5, 2008 at 9:50 am
Same here Matt but it is their section.
Yeah I know about the movies, here our friends are able to sit where they like, we chair users have to sit right at the back, tough cookies if you also have a VISION problem to.
10 Rachel // Aug 11, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Have you heard back?
11 Kaz // Oct 25, 2008 at 10:06 am
The Civic seating options are bad & you get stuck out the side & can miss bits of the show (as I did at Priscilla & Fiddler on the Roof). Once my mum sat in the companion seat with me in the w/c space & dad on the other side!
Have you heard back?
Also when I book for the Vector I’m always told only 1 person can sit with me!
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