Working with leading creative audio description company Hear the Picture, Box of Tricks is making the full run of Danesha accessible to blind and visually-impaired audiences. In a first for both companies, every performance across the four-week run will have audio description available for users.
You can listen to the Audio Trailer here: Audio Trailer - Danesha - YouTube
You can listen to the Introductory Notes here: Danesha - Introductory Notes - YouTube
By touring headsets on the road, audience members will be able to listen to Introductory Notes beforehand and Audio Description during every performance. Written by Maria Major and playwright Stefanie Reynolds, the Audio Description will be a character-led imaginative journey through the play, creatively embellishing the story being told on stage.
“Working with Hear the Picture on Too Much World at Once last year, we realised the creative potential of a whole other theatrical language that can not only make theatre more accessible but enrich the experience for audiences. Hear the Picture are experts in this field, innovating new approaches and pushing at the boundaries of what is possible. We’re so excited to share with blind and visually-impaired audiences.” – Adam Quayle, Joint Artistic Director, Box of Tricks
Hear The Picture are an actor-led creative audio description company. Founded in 2018 whilst working together on a production of Jim Cartwright's Road at Leeds Playhouse, a group of actors were inspired to train as audio describers and bring their voice acting talents and writing ability to make audio description a more characterful and colourful place. The founding members worked with visually-impaired audio description consultant Benjamin Wilson to create a new model for delivering audio description in character. Since founding, they have described shows in their innovative style at Sheffield Theatres, Shakespeare's Globe, the National Theatre and on the West End.
“Hear The Picture are delighted once again to be teaming up with Box of Tricks for the upcoming tour of DANESHA. On this production, audio description will be available on every performance pre-recorded by and performed in character. In a wonderful extra layer to the show that will bring a whole new perspective and lots of extra treats to the visually-impaired audience. Pre-recording audio description allows small scale tours like this one to be accessible to blind and visually-impaired audiences on every single performance. We are delighted that a company like Box of Tricks is showing such a commitment to blind audiences. The show really is going to be a delight to listen to whether you can see or not.” – Ben Wilson, Hear the Picture
Danesha is a new coming-of-age story exploring black culture, queer joy and finding and loving your authentic self. Touring to The Lowry, Leeds Playhouse, The Arts Centre (Edge Hill University), Blackpool Grand, Chester Storyhouse and the Unity Liverpool from 2-26 October.