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This is an ADLAB PRO video.

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ADLAB PRO is a project funded
by the European Union.

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This video is made available to you
on a Creative Commons licence.

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Hello. I’m Louise Fryer,
from Utopian Voices.

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This ADLAB PRO video is
about touch tours that take place

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before the description
of many live events.

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This is Unit 5 in Module 3.

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A live event is
a multisensory experience.

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The movement
of performers might send air

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over the skin of the audience who
may also feel the heat of the lights

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or work out
from the direction of the dialogue

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or the rustle of costumes
where the performer is on stage.

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AD of live events can appeal
to the tactile and haptic senses

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of people with sight loss, even more

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through what’s known
as the Touch tour.

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These are visits
to the stage and backstage

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in which people with sight loss
can touch items of the set,

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stage design models,
costumes and props,

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to gain information about
visual elements of the production

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prior to the performance.

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Typically, a Touch Tour
takes place an hour before the show.

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The describer agrees beforehand
with the Stage Manager or SM

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which props are available
and the configuration of the set.

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You’ll give the SM
a “wish list” of items

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from which she or he tells
what can be provided.

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The venue
will provide trained ushers

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to meet and greet
people with sight loss,

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see them to the stage
and ensure their safety throughout.

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The describer is the host
and will describe what’s on stage,

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and invite members of the cast
and crew to introduce themselves.

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After this, people with sight loss
and any sighted companions

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are invited
to explore the stage independently.

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The describer should
draw attention to any props or areas

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that might have been missed.
They should ensure

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that sighted companions
do not “hog” the actors’ attention

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nor prevent a person
with sight loss from getting close

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to objects or areas of interest.

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A Touch Tour usually last
between 30 minutes and an hour

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or as long as the SM allows.

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If the stage is not available
or cannot be visited safely,

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a smaller tour can be arranged
in a different part of the theatre.

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What to choose
depends on the show.

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In general choose things that are
unusual and feature in the action.

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Some things
aren’t interesting to touch

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but people with residual vision
might be able to see them close up.

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For example the play
“The Pitmen Painters” had canvasses

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and images of paintings projected
on a screen at the back of the set.

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By showing these at the Touch Tour
some people were able to see them,

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which they could not have done
from their seats in the stalls

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under stage
lighting conditions.

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The venue
should provide extra ushers to help.

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You might need
to brief them beforehand.

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They’ll certainly need training
so they understand basic principles

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of guiding and interacting
with people with sight loss.

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It is sometimes necessary to limit
the number of people on stage.

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Perhaps allow half to feel costumes
and meet the cast in the stalls

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while the other half
explores the set and then swap over.

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A Touch Tour works together
with the AI and the AD

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to help bring
the performance to life.

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Use the same
terminology throughout.

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The Touch Tour is an opportunity
to explain aspects of the AD.

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Not everyone
will attend the Touch Tour.

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Don’t make your AD dependent
on knowledge acquired during it.

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Don’t give away
all the surprises.

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You’ll need to collaborate
with cast and crew to avoid this.

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Research shows that of all
the elements provision for an opera,

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people with sight loss
enjoyed the Touch Tour the most.

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That was Unit 5 “Touch Tours”
in Module 3 “describing live events”

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with me Louise Fryer,
I hope you enjoyed it.

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The preparation
of this presentation

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was supported by ADLAB PRO.
Audio Description:

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A Laboratory for the Development
of a New Professional Profile

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financed by the European Union
under the Erasmus+ Programme,

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Key Action 2,
Strategic Partnerships.

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Project number:

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2016-1-IT02-KA203-024311.

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The information and views
set out in this presentation

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are those of the authors
and do not necessarily reflect

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the official opinion
of the European Union.

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Neither the European Union
institutions and bodies

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nor any person acting
on their behalf

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may be held responsible
for the use

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which may be made of
the information contained therein.

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This was an ADLAB PRO video.

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ADLAB PRO partners are:
University of Trieste,

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Universitat Autònoma
de Barcelona,

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University of Antwerp,
Adam Mickiewicz University,

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RTV Slovenia,
Utopian Voices,

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Soundfocus and Royal National
Institute of Blind People.

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ADLAB PRO was funded
by the European Union.

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This video was made available to you
on a Creative Commons licence.