I was introduced to streaming audio description for performing arts videos when I watched Twelfth Night with audio description through the National Theatre At Home service. Since then, I’ve discovered several other paid and free streaming services offering audio description for plays, ballet, opera, musicals, original films, and so much more from all over the world, making it possible for me to enjoy professional productions using my own personal technology. Here are several services offering streaming audio description for performing arts content, including a mix of classic and modern titles.
What is audio description?
Audio description, sometimes referred to as descriptive audio or described video, are additional narrator tracks that are designed with nonvisual access in mind, providing details for all key elements so that audiences with visual impairments (inclusive of blind/low vision) can fully participate and engage with content. Audio description may be provided live by a narrator or pre-recorded ahead of time using either a professional narrator or synthesized voice. At live performing arts events, audio description is typically played on an assistive listening device (ALD), which is about the size of a cell phone, or on an external application- GalaPro is an example of an application that is used in live theater.
For streaming or online content, open audio description is used, meaning that the audio description automatically plays and does not require a special device. Some services may require viewers to enable an audio description track by changing the audio language or enabling another setting. Audio description is not the same as captioning/subtitles, which only provide information about spoken content and other sounds.
Related links
- Fast Facts About Audio Description
- 8 Myths About Audio Description
- A to Z of Assistive Technology For Low Vision
Benefits of audio description for performing arts content
Why do I use audio description with low vision? Here are some of the ways I have benefitted from audio description for performing arts content:
- With low vision, I have trouble seeing scenes with dim lighting and following along with movement on the screen, even if the screen is close to my face. Since a lot of performing arts events use dim lighting for certain scenes, it can be confusing for me to figure out what is going on, and audio description can help to fill these gaps
- There are several scene changes in plays that happen quickly, and it helps for me to know when the changes are happening, and where people are going
- Strobe/flashing lights are a medical trigger for me, so getting a warning about lightning or similar effects gives me time to hide my eyes or turn the screen. I can also choose to turn off the screen entirely and listen to audio description if needed.
- I already use audio description for a variety of other media, including movies, TV shows, online videos, live theater, and others. I specifically look for content that has audio description available and consider it a major factor when choosing whether I should watch something or not.
Related links
- How I Watch Concert Videos Without Strobe Lights
- How To Check Videos For Flashing Lights
- How To Create Audio Description For YouTube With YouDescribe
Pre-performance descriptions for visually impaired
Pre-performance descriptions and pre-performance notes can provide helpful contextual information for audiences. Some performances only offer pre-performance descriptions or pre-performance notes and do not offer audio description, while others provide pre-performance information in additional to the audio description track. These are typically included on websites for performing arts venues, linked in video descriptions, or play automatically at the beginning of a performance.
Some examples of information that was included in the pre-performance description for Twelfth Night include:
- Character names and physical descriptions, and how they change through the play
- Costumes that are worn by each character, i.e black overcoats
- Descriptions of the theatre and structures that are used to create different sets
- How characters are referred to throughout the play (for example, Viola’s name is used throughout even though she goes by a different name)
- Places where scenes take place, i.e the hospital and the street
- Descriptions of sets, furniture, and props that appear on stage
National Theatre at Home audio description
National Theatre at Home is a paid streaming service ($13/month) that offers over three dozen titles with audio description, including several Shakespeare plays, classic drama, and a few modern titles as well. I was introduced to National Theatre at Home after watching Twelfth Night in 2020, and I was able to pick up on more visual details than I would have from video alone or from watching the performance in-person.
Related links
- Audio Description – National Theatre at Home (ntathome.com)
- Promoting Cast Involvement In Audio Description
- Performing Arts Centers and Low Vision: College O&M
- Participating In Drama and Theater Programs With Low Vision
BroadwayHD titles with audio description
BroadwayHD is a paid streaming service ($20/month) that offers a free 7-day trial for exploring their library. As of publishing time, they offer five titles with audio description, including Shrek the Musical, The Wiz, Hairspray Live, The Phantom of the Opera, and the 2013 Broadway revival of Romeo and Juliet. These titles use open audio description, so viewers do not have to configure anything before watching.
Related links
Musicals with audio description on Netflix, Disney+, and other streaming platforms
Several mainstream streaming services offer audio description for performing arts videos, including several musicals. Examples of musicals with audio description available for streaming include:
- Hamilton, Disney+
- Come From Away, Apple TV
- Diana the Musical, Netflix
- Newsies, Disney+
- Springsteen on Broadway, Netflix
There are also several movies based on a play that offer audio description, though this list only includes filmed stage performances.
Related links
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Televisions
- Watching Taylor Swift Reputation Stadium Tour With Audio Description
Northern Ballet Digital Dance: Audio Described
Northern Ballet offers several pay-what-you-can audio described dance films through their Digital Dance platform. Audio description is produced by VocalEyes, and several of the scripts have been written by a former dancer as well. Many of the titles also feature disabled dancers.
Related links
Performing Arts audio description on YouTube
Several performing arts centers have made select performances with audio description available for free on YouTube. Some examples of performances I found during my research came from VocalEye, Lincoln Center, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Almeida Theatre, and several regional venues. I strongly recommend filtering YouTube search results to include videos over 20 minutes when looking for full performance recordings.
Related links
LA Theater Works and audio plays
Audio plays do not include visual elements or video content, and instead use rich audio descriptions to immerse the audience in a variety of different stories. LA Theater Works Audio Drama offers several titles available for purchase, though I’ve been able to access several titles for free through my college library database. Audio Theatre Central and Audible Theater also offer several titles.
Related links
- Audio Theatre Central
- L.A. Theatre Works | LATW
- Audible Theater | Audible.com
- Online College Library Resources For Digital Access
- Audio and Nonvisual Entertainment Ideas For Blind and Low Vision
More resources on audio description for performing arts events
- The Met opera offers free audio livestreams of several performances, which include pre-performance descriptions. More details can be found at Metropolitan Opera | Free Live Audio Streams (metopera.org)
- Some performing arts groups that perform livestreams offer audio described performances. For example I attended a live online performance from comedy group Mischief called “Mischief Movie Night In”, which included live audio description and a pre-performance description, which can be found at Mischief Pre-Performance Description
- Looking for local venues that offer audio description for performing arts events? Check out the ACB’s event calendar that filters venues by state at Performing Arts With Audio Description (acb.org)
