Audio Describer
Furthering audio description in the South West
Creating tailored visual impairment access services for your event or performance.
About Charlotte
Trained Audio Describer
I trained in 2021 with Roz Chalmers from The National Theatre audio description team on a training programme supported by Arts Council England for Theatre Royal Bath.
I was then awarded a Developing Your Creative Practice grant to undertake the project Furthering Audio Description in Theatre in the South West, supported using public funding from Arts Council England.
I have since worked in theatres and directly with production companies to increase their audio described offering to visually impaired audiences and advise on the accessibility of their work.
I have worked with Proteus Theatre, Sound UK, Raucous Theatre, Dragonbird Theatre, Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery, The Wardrobe Theatre and Tobacco Factory Theatres.
Having previously worked in television production, theatre production and performance, I have a speciality in children’s theatre and am particularly interested in opening up family and young people’s theatre to visually impaired audiences.
Testimonials
I have worked alongside some of the major theatres and venues in the South West.
Clients
How audio description can help
My Work
I work directly with venues and production companies to augment their audio described offering and make their performances accessible to visually impaired audiences. Clips of audio introductions and fully embedded audio description tracks into video can be heard in the following examples of previous work.
Charlie's Wardrobe
Dragonbird Theatre (Dec 2022) – Adding audio description to the pre-recorded show and interactive workshop for the early years play, Charlie’s Wardrobe, as part of their accessible offering on Dragonbird at Home.
The Owl & The Pussycat
Dragonbird Theatre (Dec 2022) – Scripting, recording and embedding audio description into the early years play, The Owl and The Pussycat, and its accompanying workshop as part of the online film service Dragonbird at Home.
Other Work
The Bloody Chamber, Proteus Theatre (May 2022) – Delivery of the audio through description, Norwich Playhouse.
The Canticle of the Sun, Arun Ghosh for Sound UK (June 2022) – Scripting and delivery of audio introductory notes; planning and delivery of touch talk and handling session, St George’s Concert Hall.
Revealed, Tobacco Factory Theatre (October 2022) – Scripting and delivery of audio introductory notes and through description, TFT.
The Lantern Room, Raucous Theatre (November 2022) – AD access audit for the R&D phase of The Lantern Room, Watershed.
Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery (November 2022) – AD audit and initial preparation for the future delivery of film installations with AD.
Puppets Do A Movie, The Wardrobe Theatre (January 2023) – Visual impairment access audit for the venue; advising on an audio description strategy; Planning, scripting and delivery of audio introductory notes and a touch tour.
The Snow Queen, New International Encounter for Tobacco Factory Theatres (January 2023) – Scripting and delivery of audio introductory notes and through description. Planning and leading the touch tour.
Audio Files
Understanding Audio Description
What is Audio Description?
Audio description is a narration describing anything a creator has chosen to depict through the visual medium alone.
In theatre, that is a script describing the visual aspects of the performance and includes the appearance of the actors, the costumes and the set, scene changes, choreography, body language and facial expressions. This can be delivered live or added as an audio track to pre-recorded digital shows.
Audio description is essential if you want to open up your creative or cultural event to visually impaired audiences. It can also add a great deal of value to autistic audiences’ experiences and to anyone who struggles with sensory or sequential processing.
It is comprised of several separate elements: introductory notes; touch tours; through description delivered live or pre-recorded; integrated description. (For a detailed explanation, see Services).
The different elements of audio description can be applied on an event specific basis, tailoring the AD to the audience needs of individual shows.
How audio description can help
Services
Providing introductory
notes
This is a document that introduces the event, providing background information to the story or the setting. It describes any set, props, costumes, characters and how those characters are interrelated. It will also deliver access information for the event, giving full details on dates, times and how to attend. It is presented as a large print pdf and an MP3 audio file, which can be sent out in advance directly to audience members or made available as a download on the event website. From resources provided by the production and the venue, and after viewing the event, I will create comprehensive introductory notes to be delivered to VI audiences.
Planning and leading touch tours and handling sessions
Scripting and delivery of live audio description
I can write and deliver creative and engaging audio through description of your performance, using resources provided by the production. I will liaise with your technical department to make sure that all necessary technical requirements are in place to deliver a seamless and effective service to visually impaired audience members.
Adding audio description to pre-recorded performances
Improve and adapt Your current services
Not sure where to start with audio description?
Would like to improve or adapt your current access services? Interested in integrating audio description into your production as part of the performance? I can provide tailored advice on audio description from a very basic introduction to AD right through to coming into the rehearsal room to help create integrated overt and /or covert description embedded into your show. Working with visually impaired colleagues, these services can be moulded to fit your requirements.
Get in Touch
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