Throughout the entire entertainment industry, there is currently a big push to make all forms of live performance as inclusive and accessible as possible. A recent study carried out by Purple Seven showed that the amount of people engaging with theatre who consider themselves to have a disability is rising year on year. A large way in which venues and producers can increase their accessibility is through the equipment they use. With that in mind, our Customer Service Key Account Manager Leo Humphrey has been looking at what products are currently available and the impact these are having…
It’s fantastic to see so many theatre shows and venues now actively pursuing attempts to be inclusive. You have venues such as the Cambridge Arts Centre, which has lifts to all floors and all areas of the bar, stalls, and circle, a staff force that is fully trained in using headsets, along with free tickets for carers on many of their performances. You also have companies such as Shape offering improvement guides and voluntary staff which allow organisations to provide the very best service for their disabled clients.
Relaxed performances are now frequently offered at a number of theatres, with these aiming to provide performances to those on the autistic spectrum and those with sensory and communication disorders. The purpose is to create a relaxed environment which individuals have shown to really benefit from as it reduces anxiety that a large auditorium full of people can induce.
In the West End, a range of shows we’re supplying the lighting for offer captioned performances, such as Kunene and the King, Leopoldstadt, Mary Poppins and Matilda; with the National Theatre even offering Smart Caption Glasses. Many other productions offer signed performances, including the many tours we’re supplying such as Frankenstein, The King and I, Cabaret, On Your Feet, Les Misérables and The Lion King to name but a few. It’s also becoming more and more common for venues to have assisted listening devices which can be obtained from the reception or box office.
Thankfully, it seems that this push for accessibility will continue to grow; meaning it’s something that manufacturers are having to take into consideration when developing new products. At the forefront of this is Sennheiser. For years, they have broke ground with their infrared systems, offering high-quality, dependable audio with single, dual or stereo operation. What has really impressed me though is their new MobileConnect app which is leading the way in how think about assistive listening.
MobileConnect allows users to experience real-time audio streams with high-quality sound and perfect speech indelibility. It also has a Personal Hearing Assistant feature which enables users to perfectly adjust the audio signal to their individual needs. What’s great is that users simply need to download the app and can use their own mobile device as the receiver. For users, this offers the ultimate convenience whereas for operators, there is no concern about device handling and maintenance. We’re expecting this type of technology to become more and more popular as the desire for truly accessible experiences continues to increase.
As a company, we’re passionate about making live entertainment accessible to all and this can be seen by the products we are investing in and promoting. We encourage any venues/managers/operators to get in touch to discuss how they too can become more inclusive to their audiences’ needs and what options are available. As accessibility is becoming a necessity as opposed to an option, now is the time to put the foundations in place. The end result will ensure that whatever form of entertainment you’re offering manages to engage with as many people as possible.
If you’re interested in any of the products mentioned or would like to discuss which other accessibility products are available then please contact our Sales Team on Sales@WhiteLight.Ltd.uk.