For information about Captioned, BSL interpreted and Audio Described plays, please visit the performance types page.
Below you can find out information about access facilties at Soho Theatre. We aim to make the venue and programme as accessible as possible to the broadest audiences.
Soho Theatre provides regular Captioned, British Sign Language interpreted and Audio Described performances for our plays, so that our audience get the full story.
Below is information about what to expect from an accessible performance. For dates for these shows, please click here.
Captioning
Captioning works in a similar way to subtitles on TV or a foreign film and is aimed at deaf and hard of hearing audiences. The dialogue for the play scrolls down on a box visible on stage - in addition to dialogue, information is also shown about music and sound effects. For each captioned performance, a trained captioner feeds the text onto the box as it is spoken.
If you are a hearing aid user, you may also benefit from wearing a loop headset which amplifies and clarifies the sounds of the play.
BSL Interpreted Plays
BSL interpreted plays feature an on-stage interpreter who converts spoken dialogue into British Sign Language. Since BSL has a unique structure and syntax, the interpreter will spend several weeks learning the play before performing their translation to the audience. As well as conveying dialogue, the signer will also capture the expression and tone of the play.
We also release a regular You Tube video in BSL (with subtitles) about BSL and captioned shows. You can see it at http://sohotheatre.com/p349.html
Audio Description
Audio Description captures the visual elements of a play and makes it come alive through speech - for blind or visually impaired audience members. From the look of the set, to stage action and the physical movements of the cast. Audio description is specially written then spoken by a trained describer during the pauses in a play, listened to on headphones in the auditorium.
We also provide an audio guide and touch tours before each Audio Described performance. We can send this to you on CD or you can listen to them on the website, via the show page.
For more information about accessible performances or to join our mailing list, email our Access Officer, Charlie Swinbourne: charlie@sohotheatre.com
