[dbaust] Bringing theatre to life for blind
- From: Erika Webb <erikaweb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: Erika Webb <erikaweb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 18:35:11 -0800 (PST)
Bringing theatre to life for blind - by Lindsay McPhee, The West Australian -
February 6, 2012, 4:34 am
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/news/12817343/bringing-theatre-to-life-for-blind/
From props and lighting to costumes and actors' facial expressions, there are
many elements to a theatre production that make it come alive.
But for theatre lovers with vision impairment, much of the magic can be lost.
Now, a Perth team of volunteers has been transforming the theatre for visually
impaired patrons with an audio description service. Using a small earpiece and
receiver, audience members hear a volunteer describe the set, costumes and
action in between the dialogue.
Perth Theatre Trust venue manager AEG Ogden has introduced the service to His
Majesty's Theatre and the State Theatre Centre (WA) and, as the festival season
ramps up, audio descriptions will be available for many shows, including Henry
V and The White Divers of Broome.http://www.ptt.wa.gov.au
State Theatre Centre deputy general manager Alice Jorgensen, who trains the
volunteers, said learning how to describe a show took time and practice but the
results were worthwhile.
"There are so many people who for years felt that theatre wasn't accessible to
them but now feel they can go along and see a show and get all the jokes and
understand what is happening just like the sighted person next to them," she
said.
Also posted on the Blind Citizens WA Facebook and Blind Citizens WA Twitter.
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- » [dbaust] Bringing theatre to life for blind - Erika Webb
