Accessible Theatre Charity celebrates milestone in opening a new accessible venue for Surrey

Rob Henderson, former British and Irish Lions rugby player, Sir Richard Stilgoe and Councillor Jackie Wren, were amongst 50 guests at Head2Head Sensory Theatre in Oxted this week to celebrate the launch of the accessible venue’s Hygiene Room, with hoist and changing bed.

Funded by The Wooden Spoon Children's Charity of Rugby, the Hygiene Room is the latest upgrade and another step towards turning the old milking barn into a refurbished space for the community. It is hoped that it will be accepted onto the UK’s Changing Places Toilets’ list for the benefit of local and visiting wheelchair users.

Representatives from The Wooden Spoon, students from The Orpheus Centre, volunteers, actors, and the local community were present as Rob Henderson unveiled a plaque. He then joined students from The Orpheus Centre in a sing and sign ‘Walking on Sunshine’.

Anni Rhodes-Steere, Head2Head’s founder said: “This is a huge milestone in the barn’s refurbishment, and we are honoured to have Rob and Sir Richard join us for this celebration.”

The accessible theatre charity has been setting up base at Drewshearne Barn since 2022 and has reached Stage 2 of its appeal to Your Fund Surrey to create a habitable space for the local and special needs’ communities of Tandridge and Surrey.

Anni continued: “Our community is keen to use the barn as a safe hub, providing social events, fitness classes, workshops, a cafe and a free lending library.

“In addition to this the charity will use the space to film online shows for schools and families around the world, and to give live performances for disabled children and their families in Surrey.”

Head2Head Sensory Theatre is a small accessible theatre charity creating imaginative ways to make theatre and film accessible for everyone. The charity is growing as a brand in the special needs’ community worldwide with shows accessible from its YouTube learning channel.

If you are interested in supporting Head2Head Sensory Theatre during a critical period of transition, please get in touch.