For captioning awareness week (9-15 November), Jane reviews her first year of being organised enough to plan to attend several captioned performances. Result’s co-director, Jane is an arts lover and also Chair of the Arts Marketing Association. Here she highlights an unexpected and very welcome example of good practice at a local theatre in Manchester. 

In the dismal gloom of early January, I cheered myself up by sitting down and systematically going through all the theatre and arts centre websites in my region for the year. I had never done this before. It takes a lot of time which I rarely seem to have.

I was filtering – panning for gold – because I need captions to appreciate theatre. I fought frequent feelings of ‘Oh blimey  I wish I could see that,’ and tried to focus on the offerings that were accessible – and be grateful for them. I admit, however, that the process did remind me how limited the offering still is if you need captions.

I teamed up with a friend who also uses captions and who lives at the other end of the country. We compared options. When could we get together and both enjoy theatre together? 

We pre-booked a few performances. It meant I had something to look forward to at regular (if rather well-spaced) intervals throughout the year. I am not exaggerating when I say it made my whole year better.

In Spring, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest at the Old Vic was one of the most powerful performances I have ever seen. I am probably the only human left on earth who hadn’t seen the film or read the book, so this was my first exposure to the story and its devastating final scene. It has stayed with me ever since.

Mischief’s musical comedy, Thespians at The Lowry was a well performed piece of jolly frippery. It was so popular that even 6 months before the performance, it was difficult to get seats. Although we asked, the theatre could not suggest alternatives which would have had better access to the captions. From the seats we were given, we had to do a fair amount of peering and glancing from the circus-like action and dancing to the side screens. I think we would have enjoyed it more if captioning access had been considered and factored in right from the point of releasing tickets. (See later example of good practice, please Lowry!).

Pride, the Musical at The National Theatre was an absolute knockout. I had almost forgotten how much a well thought through, brilliant performance could lift you and shake out your perspective on life. I felt so lucky that I could be there and access this optimistic piece of theatre.

Finally, this month – November – I booked to see King Lear with David Thelfall at Manchester’s Royal Exchange by myself. The theatre is in the round which feels inclusive visually. When seating is opposite centred caption screens, it can be far easier to read and follow the action on stage than when the screens are to the far right and left of a proscenium arch. I was looking forward to the performance.

Something then happened for the first time ever.

I received an email from the theatre checking whether I required captions to access the play. They explained they had checked visual access to the caption screens during rehearsals and noticed that the seat I had booked was not ideal. I confirmed that I needed captions then, without having to ask, the theatre swapped my seat for one where access would be better.

This may sound like a small thing, but it made a world of difference. First because it showed the Royal Exchange was being pro-active and considering the experience of its audience members. Second, it prevented what could have been an offputting and frustrating experience if I had missed the dialogue. For Shakespeare, this is particularly vital. The play was a triumph. I was happy that I could immerse myself in the drama like any other theatre-goer and I hope that other theatres consider taking this approach. 

I don’t make New Year resolutions, but this year’s encouraging experience of captioned theatre has inspired me to go hunting for accessible performances next year. Maybe I will see some of you in the audience? I do hope so.

Image: University of Salford Press Office, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons