NI Sightlines

Sightlines makes theatre accessible to blind people by describing the visual element of theatre (including costumes, sets and props) to blind and visually impaired audience members. The process entails preparing programme notes which describe the set and scenery of the play as well as the characters’ physical attributes and their costumes. These notes are provided in advance, in the chosen accessible format, to blind audience members. Meantime, the describers prepare a script which details the physical element of the production, including such essentials as arrivals on and off the stage, the visual component of any humour or jokes, the major moves and actions. This has to be delivered between the lines of dialogue so that the blind people do not miss any of the spoken lines. It is delivered remotely, via a headset, into the ear of the blind person and enables them to respond to visual information at the same time as the mainstream audience. If a laugh is dependent on physical gestures or facial expressions the blind people laugh at the same time as the rest of the audience. All this happens ‘live’ in the theatre. Sightlines describes exhibitions, art works, carnivals and tours for blind people, translating visual significance into verbal impressions. Sightlines also runs and delivers training courses in audio-description.

Support Type

• Audio Description
• Training

Artforms supported

• Dance
• Museums
• Theatre

Operates in

• Northern Ireland