VocalEyes believes that blind and partially sighted people should have an equal opportunity to experience and enjoy the UK’s arts and heritage.

Each year, the charity enables hundreds of blind and partially sighted people to experience drama, ballet and opera at theatres across the country. Highly experienced audio describers prepare and deliver a description of the visual elements of the performance that the blind theatre-goer hears through headphones in the gaps between the dialogue.

Before the show, they also hear audio introductions describing the set, characters, costumes and key elements of the plot, and experience touch tours, where they have the opportunity to come on stage, meet the cast, and handle costumes and props.

VocalEyes also works with museums, art galleries and heritage sites, delivering live tours, or recorded guides to help provide access to their blind and partially sighted visitors.

Did you know...

Blind and partially sighted people regularly enjoy going to the theatre to experience drama, ballet and opera, with the help of audio description. Working in the often short gaps between the dialogue, experienced describers deliver a polished description that the blind theatre-goer listens to through headphones. Similarly, blind and partially sighted people regularly enjoy museums, art galleries and heritage sites across the country through audio description.

What makes VocalEyes different

  • The charity specialises in arts and heritage, and involves blind and partially sighted people as trainers and evaluators alongside staff and trustees.

  • VocalEyes is the only UK charity that specialises in ensuring that people who have visual impairments aren’t excluded from enjoying the arts. On 11 October 2008, VocalEyes set the Guinness World Record for the largest number of blind and partially sighted people attending an audio described performance, when 168 record-breakers came to Les Misérables at The Queen’s Theatre in London’s West End.

Address

54 Commercial Street
London
E1 6LT

Contact Number

020 7375 1043