You know what they say – all work and no play…. so last night, after a particularly tough day, I headed to Broadway to see ‘Beautiful – the Carole King story’.

I had booked my ticket last night – just one, and clearly it needed to be accessible. I was offered a seat in the back row of the orchestra. Utter horror – why on earth would I want to sit with the orchestra???? And then discovered that the orchestra was the same as the stalls in the UK – so clearly all okay. Unlike the UK, however, no concession was on offer. I’ve always said I don’t expect a concession, or indeed even want one. However when it’s not on offer I suddenly realised how much I appreciated it. What? You mean I actually have to pay full price just like everyone else? Obviously I did.

Did I mention I had had a tough day? So I decided a glass of fizz was in order. I took a cab from my hotel down to Broadway and asked them to drop me at the Hilton. I was dropped on the corner of 43^rd and Broadway and it was …. bedlam! It was utterly crazy. People everywhere. Taking photos. Police. Traffic. Whistles blowing. I hadn’t remembered this from my last visit.

I finally found some tranquillity inside the Hilton before making my way to the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. The service was exemplary. I was escorted to a lift – which was as big as a good size bedroom – and jumped the queue at the bar before taking my seat. (Being British I did apologise to those I jumped in front of).

Beautiful is amazing. Utterly fantastic. I got lost in the music – I laughed and I cried (that tough day again). Go and see it – it was wonderful. And if you can see it on Broadway…..

You’ve got to give it to the Royal Albert Hall – they really know about providing excellent service. And when it comes to disability, they are spot on.

Last night I went to see La Boheme with my friend Ellie. I had booked ‘cheap’ seats on the basis that I was informed that we would both get a great view with no obstructions. I was told that the seats at the next price bracket, an additional £45, wouldn’t give us any better a view and so there really seemed no point in paying the additional money for the sake of it.

Our seats were in the Grand Tier and I would indeed have had an amazing view…had I actually been able to see over the balcony. However I was too low down and therefore to see over it I had to lean really far forward. All the other seats were raised up however the spaces for wheelchairs weren’t raised up hence being too low.

I wasn’t going to say anything – the seats had been incredibly cheap after all – however the steward realised that I couldn’t see and decided to try to source a solution. He was an older gentleman and I just love the fact that he ‘got it’. He wanted us to enjoy the performance and was going to try his hardest to ensure we did.

It took a bit of sorting out however just before the performance started we were shown into a box where we had the most amazing view. We were enjoying having the entire box to ourselves when another gentleman joined us at half time. The cheek of it! Apparently he’d also been in the cheap seats and had been too high up to be able to properly read the subtitles. Hence being moved.

The Royal Albert Hall clearly wish their visitors to enjoy the performances and if this means moving them to more expensive seats then that’s what they do – providing they have the space to do it. What a great attitude. Next time perhaps we’ll get one of those boxes that lays on champage and delicious food. Just a thought!