Innovation vs practicality vs entertainment. Developing and implementing affordable technological solutions for theatre accessibility

This article examines the use of inclusive technological solutions to promote accessibility on stage. Specifically, it concentrates on the way technological solutions are developed and integrated into a show’s design both in terms of the immersion and entertainment provided by the end-product, but also in practical ways, to make the technological solutions affordable and practical from the perspective of designing and running a show. The article is based on the empirical findings of a project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (United Kingdom) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) that brought together Red Earth Theatre, a small-scale touring theatre company based in the UK with an established track record and commitment to research in inclusive integrated communication for young audiences (with a focus on Deaf audiences) and an interdisciplinary team of researchers across arts and computer sciences at the University of Nottingham. The researchers developed technological solutions that would allow for accessibility to be embedded into the creative process (following principles similar to those of accessible filmmaking). Any such solutions, however, have to strike a balance between affordability, practical integration into workflows and particularly the design possibilities and creative options they present. They also have to successfully embed accessibility into performances in ways that are going to not only enable immersion, but also add to the semiotic richness and entertainment value of a show for all members of the audience, whatever their needs.