Audio Description

Audio description is, very simply, an audio commentary for people who are blind or partially-sighted. On television, at the cinema, or in a theatre, this usually includes an explanation of anything visual going-on when the characters aren't speaking. However, for contemporary dance, it needs to be much more than that.

In collaboration with voice artiste and experienced audio describer Willie Elliott, StopGAP are leading the field in audio described contemporary dance. More than simply describing what's going on using specific dance vocabulary, we've endeavoured to create a complementary experience that makes use of vocal rhythm, poetic delivery and exciting language, focussing on the essence and flavour of the movement. This combination of language and delivery (along with Willie's soft Scottish tones) ultimately results in something that is more like a piece of performance poetry.

In the future we hope to develop this experience further, perhaps offering a variety of different pre-recorded descriptions using a multi-channel system, that would be available to more people – not exclusively for those with a visual impairment but possibly as a way for first-time dance audiences to feel more comfortable about what they see on stage.

How to book audio description

StopGAP aims to include live audio description whenever possible – click on the 'Forthcoming Performance Dates' page to check availability.

If live audio description is being offered for the performance, you can book for a 'Touch Tour' (either through the venue's Box Office or directly through StopGAP). This unique tour will take place 1 hour before the performance and will vary from venue to venue. It is intended as an extra sensory aid to help orient audience members with a visual impairment to experience, up close, the dance space and even some of the more complicated poses the dancers will make, that will be described during the performance.

Prior to the performance, pre-booked headsets along with operating instructions will be available in the foyer. There will then be a short introduction in the main auditorium (via the headsets) approximately 15 minutes before the performance begins, which helps to set the scene and is also a way to check that the headsets are working properly.

At the end of the performance, simply hand your headset to a member of staff, or return it to the stand in the foyer where you originally collected it from.