We open in a field setting at Sybylla Melvyn’s home of Possum Gully. Centre stage, there is a raised, circular platform, covered in synthetic straw-coloured thatch, which has the appearance of dried grass.
The stage is dotted with instruments and one by one each actor enters and begins playing an instrument – some more than one. During the ensemble piece, Victoria Falconer, the Musical Director, wanders around the stage playing the violin.
What you just read is an example of how a blind or low vision person experiences the first few minutes of My Brilliant Career through audio description.
Thanks to philanthropic support we are able to offer free audio description at select performances for people who are vision impaired. Productions are narrated by volunteers who describe actions, expressions and gestures during gaps between dialogue throughout the performance. The narration is carefully crafted to avoid disrupting the playwright’s intent, ensuring that moments of pause and silence retain their emotional depth.
The service describes movements, facial expressions, stage interactions and spatial use – capturing the essence of the production while supporting, rather than intruding upon, the dialogue.
‘A great example of this was during the 2023 production of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, where audiences experienced an immersive, auditory journey following Billie Holiday’s descent into intoxication, portraying the downward spiral of her personal life,’ Michael Ward, Manager of Audio Description Services from Vision Australia told us.
Delivering high-quality audio description requires meticulous preparation. Each show is watched by narrators three times, where they take detailed notes and turn these into a script for show time. Pre-show notes are also provided to patrons in the days before the production, offering insights into the set design, props and character traits.
Another accessibility service on offer at our theatres is tactile tours, where patrons are encouraged to explore the stage and get a hands-on feel for the props, set and costumes used in the performance. This helps to provide a better idea of what is happening on stage, contributing to a fully rounded theatrical experience.
‘For our recent production of The Robot Dog, we had a real robot dog that moved around the stage, with a mouth and eyes that lit up when it talked,’ Melbourne Theatre Company’s Learning Manager Nick Tranter said.
Ari Maza Long in The Robot Dog. Photo: Tiffany Garvie
‘The robot dog was made by our Electrics and Props departments, and its fluffy pink ears were very endearing. In the pre-show tactile tour, I witnessed a beautiful moment of delight when a visually impaired young person touched the dog’s soft, furry ears.
The tactile tour is an important part of our Access offering – that young person could create a clear mental image of what the robot dog looked like.’
Theatre fosters social connection, and for people living with a disability, attending the theatre can help reduce feelings of isolation by allowing them to share in live performances alongside their peers.
‘Everyone has the right to access and experience art, and services like these are important to ensuring a level playing field amongst every person in our society. Breathing in a moment of art with a whole audience is a profound experience,’ Michael added.
We’re committed to making our performances accessible to a wide audience and also offer the following accessibility services: Auslan interpretation, captioning, relaxed performances, hearing assistance and wheelchair and mobility access. To learn more about our accessibility services, click here.
Please donate generously today to help us continue to offer services that ensure the joy of live performance is truly accessible to all.
Published on 2 May 2025
