Accessible Theatre: Audio Description

This one-day course will introduce you to ways of making theatre accessible to people with sight loss using audio description (AD).

Overview

This one-day course will introduce you to ways of making theatre accessible to people with sight loss using audio description (AD).
During the course you will:

  • find out more about audiences for AD
  • try your hand at describing settings, costumes and characters
  • learn how to prioritise different sources of visual information and the best way to capture them in words

This course is run by CenTraS, the Centre for Translation Studies at UCL.

This professional course is open to:

  • freelance translators
  • undergraduate and postgraduate translation and theatre studies students
  • translation or theatrology tutors
  • theatrologists
  • access officers
  • anyone with interest in media accessibility

Part A - Introduction to theatre accessibility

During the first part of the course, you'll listen to a presentation and discuss accessibility in theatres.

You'll discuss the rights-based approach to access to content, and the current legislation on accessibility in entertainment contexts.

You'll then learn about accessibility as it's realised in theatres, what it involves, what types of access services are used, and what other types of access can be provided.

There will be a demonstration of various settings and setups of equipment for subtitling for the D/deaf and the hard-of-hearing and audio description for people with sight loss.

Part B - Audio description

The second part of the course is more practical and involves writing and exercises, including giving a short presentation to the group.
You'll be given guidance on how to create scripts for audio description and hear about a range of examples.

  • The topics covered will include:
    legislation
  • past and present situation of AD
  • types of AD
  • economic and professional aspects
  • the conventions used at the theatre and in the arts in general

By the end of the course, you'll be able to:

  • understand types of access services offered in theatres
  • characterise access challenges specific to live performances and events
  • write an audio introduction for a live performance and defend your choices
  • explain the purpose of a touch tour for live events
  • summarise and evaluate new developments related to AD for live performances, such as integrated AD 

You'll receive a certificate of attendance on completion of the course.

The fees are as follows: 

  • UCL students and CenTraS alumni - £90
  • UCL staff, academic visitors, and affiliates - £150
  • Full rate - £180

This course will take place on 29 June 2026 and 5 October 2026.

To book your place, please use UCL Online Store:

Roz Chalmers has over 25 years of sustained practice in the field of audio description. Her work has encompassed over 150 theatres in the UK.  She has trained describers in Europe, South Korea, Hong Kong, India, the US and Canada, gaining multi-country cross-cultural experience. Her practice crosses theatre, screen, and museums, galleries and heritage sites. She was awarded an MBE in 2023 for services to the theatre and disabled people.

For information on content and fees, please contact us at selcs.centras-professional@ucl.ac.uk