What's everyone laughing about?

By Linda Bartram

For years I attended my local theatre’s productions as a season’s ticket holder. I was usually able to follow the plot and recognize when the various actors were speaking and where they were on the stage. My theatre companion would describe the set as it was visible to the audience while we waited for the play to begin, but once the play started, it was not possible to continue the description of the actors or their gestures and facial expressions once they came on stage. 

Pre-recorded audio description has been available in the movie theatre and on TV for years and in the case of television, is mandated. Description for live performances is less common however, and is still reliant on grants, charity and organizations like VocalEye who came to my theatre about a decade ago. Until then, I hadn’t appreciated what I was missing; I just did not always feel included.

VocalEye provides a live audio describer who communicates with blind audience members through a receiver and headset. They give a pre-show in-depth description of the stage set-up, props and scenery. They also describe each actor and the various costumes they don during the performance and may hint at what to expect of the different characters. All this adds to a more fulsome experience and better understanding of the subtle nuances of the play.

But the thing I think I appreciate the most is that I’m no longer left sitting wondering what is going on when the audience bursts into laughter all around me. Without description, I can appreciate the verbal humour, but I am oblivious to the gestures, antics and facial expressions that caused this sudden mirth. I am once more reminded about how much I am missing as a blind person and I feel excluded from experiencing one of life’s pleasures. With well-timed, skilled description however, I can smile or even occasionally laugh along with everyone else. 

Now that is inclusion!!