We’re delighted to be teaming up with Ci Optometrists as a new sponsor for our audio-described activity. They’re on a mission to support those living with visual impairment and together we’re building a partnership with purpose. As inclusivity champions, we strive to make CFT as accessible as possible, and our audio-described performances are part of that commitment. 

Audio-description brings theatre to life for visually impaired theatre-goers. It's a service which allows them to receive live narration describing the action on stage through a discreet headset, with the describers speaking from a sound-proofed box at the back of the auditorium. There is no impact on the on-stage performance, so other audience members won’t even notice it’s happening. Free Touch Tours before each audio-described performance allow patrons to feel the set, costumes and props, helping them to build up a mental picture of the show before it starts. 

Gabi Williams, Deputy House Manager at CFT, often helps to deliver these Touch Tours. She says, 'It’s really important to help participants get a feel for the size, spacing and style of the set. By exploring props and costumes, especially any items that are relevant to the plot, you can really add to the experience. We describe the items in detail and participants are invited to feel, explore and ask questions. They frequently comment how much the Touch Tour has added to their overall enjoyment of the show'. 

A pre-recorded audio introduction also describes the scenic elements and characters in detail; it’s available for people to listen to before they arrive, or when they are in their seats. After attending with the Midhurst 4Sight Vision group, one audience member commented: 'The audio description was so good that it did not make the slightest difference that I could not see a thing that was happening on the stage!'. 

Speaking on the motivation behind the sponsorship, Joseph Seaman, owner of Ci Optometrists says, ‘I have spent my whole working life trying to maximise vision and looking after the health of people’s eyes. When patients are living with sight loss and visual impairment, my role is about supporting them and maximising their quality of life. I see the audio-described performances at CFT as a brilliant service to enhance the lives of those living with visual impairment.’

Although the business has been operating at the heart of Chichester since 1990 (formerly as Claudine Ickeringill Optometrists), Joseph was only recently introduced to the audio-description service by a client - who, as it turns out, is one of our talented audio-describers. 

Joseph recalls, ‘I was struck by what a brilliant way it was to bring the best theatre experience possible to those with visual impairment. I wanted to try and support the service itself but also try and raise awareness of it so more people with visual impairment could benefit from it.’ 

Together, we’re striving to make the arts more accessible – one performance at a time. 

View dates of our upcoming audio-described performances.  Other access performances, including Captioned, BSL interpreted, Relaxed and Dementia friendly shows, can be found on the Access Performances What's On.