News and Announcements
Audio Description Service: Bringing Entertainment to Life for the Vision Impaired
AEG Ogden (Perth) Pty Ltd, venue managers for the Perth Theatre Trust venues have introduced a new Audio Description Service that captures the visual elements of theatre performances by describing the ‘unheard’ aspects that are essential to understanding a story line. This service brings entertainment to life for people who are blind or vision impaired whilst being unobtrusive to the user. Users of the service are given a small earpiece and receiver into which they hear a volunteer describe aspects of the set, costumes and action. The service commences 10 minutes prior to the start of the performance so that the set and other elements can be described or sections of the programme can be read to the patron. The Audio Description Service was launched at the beginning of this year after receiving complimentary feedback from trial performances in 2008.
So far three performances including Sydney Theatre Company’s War of the Roses have used the service and a further seven performances will be offered in 2009. These include:
The Seed, Presented by Perth Theatre Company, Playhouse Theatre, Saturday 6 June 2.15pm
God of Carnage, Presented by Black Swan State Theatre Company, Playhouse Theatre, Saturday 20 June 2.15pm
The Memory of Water, Presented by Black Swan State Theatre Company, Playhouse Theatre, Saturday 11 July 2.15pm
Much Ado About Nothing, Presented by Black Swan State Theatre Company, Playhouse Theatre, Saturday 29 August 2.15pm
EQUUS, Presented by Perth Theatre Company and His Majesty’s Theatre, His Majesty’s Theatre, Saturday 26 September 2.00pm
The Web, Presented by Black Swan State Theatre Company, Playhouse Theatre, Saturday 3 October 2.15pm
The Sapphires, Presented by Black Swan State Theatre Company, Playhouse Theatre, Saturday 31 October 2.15pm
Tickets for audio described performances are available through BOCS Ticketing. It is essential that patrons advise the booking agent that the Audio Description Service will be required at time of booking. Tickets for the service can be purchased up to one week prior to the performance. Patrons are requested to arrive at least 20 minutes prior to the performance in order to collect their equipment and be comfortably seated before the audio description commences 10 minutes before the start of the performance.
For further information or interviews regarding the Audio Description Service please contact Alice Jorgensen, on 08 9380 3000 or ajorgensen@sac.aegogdenperth.com.au.