Another theatre has announced it has installed an Auracast sound system, this time in Birmingham.
The famous Hippodrome Theatre, which once hosted the finals of the ITV talent show contest New Faces, says its Auracast installation will improve accessibility not just for the deaf community but visually impaired and neurodivergent theatregoers.
It currently welcomes more than 600,000 visitors a year to its performances and an additional 450,000 children, young people and families through its outreach programmes, including free outdoor art festivals.
The theatre says this is part of its Hippodrome Unlocked scheme, a five-year plan aimed at making it the most accessible venue of its type in the UK. It will enable more theatregoers who have access and sensory needs to enjoy live performances on its stages.
Current initiatives include audio-described, captioned or British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted performances as well as Relaxed Performances, and it has a team of Access and Inclusion Advocates who are encouraged to share feedback, ideas and experiences.
Like the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham and the Contact Theatre in Manchester, they have installed the Ampetronic Auri system.
This enables those with Auracast-enabled headsets, earbuds and hearing aids to connect directly to the Auracast via an Auracast Assistant app on their phones.
For those without, they can borrow an Auri pebble from the Hippodrome. These receivers have 3.5mm headphone jacks allowing audiences to use their own headphones, while an induction loop cable can be inserted to create a miniature loop system which can be used by those with older hearing aids that have a T switch (a telecoil/loop).
The Hippodrome says that its Auri system will have multiple channels, so that when they host Audio Described performances, visually impaired users can tune in to this Auracast and have a description of the action as well as being able to hear the dialogue being played out.
The Auri Auracaster has been tried and tested at the Birmingham Hippodrome – here’s what people said
The Birmingham Hippodrome has welcomed access and inclusion advocates to test the system. And, like others who have experienced the benefits of Auracast including clear sound and being able to sit anywhere in the auditorium, they have been impressed.
The theatre quoted two of them:
Paul Hopkins said he is really excited about the installation, and The Hippodrome had committed to a considerable investment in the equipment. This gives him the confidence to become a regular theatregoer to the venue.
“In the short term, vision-impaired audience members like me will experience immediate improvements in being able to sit anywhere with consistent sound quality,” he said.
“Right now, we can use our own wired headphones for maximum familiarity and comfort. Moving forward, we’ll be able to connect the wireless earbuds we use every day with their personalised features and settings to the new system.”
And Rose Jukes echoed this. A hearing aid user, she said she was impressed with how the music from the orchestra had been Auracasted along with the actors’ speech. She felt this improved the immersive and sensory experience, allowing a better understanding of shows without subtitles. This provides her with more flexibility in booking options.
“This Audio Description system upgrade is a fantastic example of how Disability Access and Inclusion benefits everyone, not just disabled people,” she said.
“The equipment is compatible with plug-in headphones, which are available at the Hippodrome, providing everyone with the opportunity to adjust the volume of the orchestra and actors’ microphones according to personal preference.”
You can book ahead for the Hippodrome’s Auri system
The Birmingham Hipppdrome has a dedicated Accessibility team who can help with bookings, including reserving an Auri pebble ahead of a performance.
It has launched an Access Registration scheme in partnership with Nimbus Disability, a social enterprise and an organisation run by and for disabled people, and recognised as a leading authority on accessible ticketing in the UK.
Services for this include wheelchair booking, essential companions, easier access to the most appropriate seats for captioned, BSL-interpreted and audio-described performances, and access to discounts available to those with additional needs.
The Access Card costs £15 and is valid for three years. It works in a range of venues across the country.
For more details, call the Birmingham Hippodrome team on 0121 689 1060, or log on to: https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/plan-your-visit/access/
Picture: Hazel Nicholson / Flickr
