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  • Audio Description & Touch Tours on-page menu

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  • Example of a Recorded Audio Introduction
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Audio Description & Touch Tours

Mention opera and most people think of singing and music – but this is only part of the overall experience. What about scenery, costumes, lighting, direction and choreography? 

For those with a visual impairment, our audio description service provides a live commentary during the show, relating the action on stage without compromising the music. As part of the experience, a recorded introduction to the opera is available in advance, as well as a live audio introduction before the start of the performance. 

When you arrive at your chosen performance please make yourself known to a member of the Front of House team and they will provide you with your audio description headset. 

Patrons with a visual impairment can also book onto a free touch tour – an opportunity to go backstage and become more familiar with the set, scenery, props and costumes. This aims to help visually impaired audience members immerse themselves in the world presented on stage, with audio describers, stage management and wardrobe staff present to answer any questions and share descriptions or interpretations of the space.

Please book in advance for audio-described performances and touch tours via the venue box offices.

Guide dogs are welcome at all of our venues. 

Coming up...

The Barber of Seville

Rossini

Revival of the 2007 production

From Tuesday, 17 October 2023
More info about The Barber of Seville

Access: The Barber of Seville

Access opera performance

Specially created for those who would benefit from a more relaxed opera experience

From Friday, 27 October 2023
More info about Access: The Barber of Seville

Audio-described Performances

Season 2023/24

The Barber of Seville

Theatre Royal Glasgow - 28 October 2023, 7.15pm
Festival Theatre Edinburgh - 11 November 2023, 7.15pm
Eden Court, Inverness - 18 November 2023, 7.15pm
His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen - 25 November 2023, 7.15pm

Marx in London!

Theatre Royal Glasgow - 17 February 2024, 7.15pm
Festival Theatre Edinburgh - 24 February 2024, 7.15pm

La traviata

Theatre Royal Glasgow - 18 May 2024, 7.15pm
Eden Court, Inverness - 25 May 2024, 7.15pm
His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen - 1 June 2024, 7.15pm
Festival Theatre Edinburgh - 15 June 2024, 7.15pm

Touch tours for patrons with a visual impairment will take place at 6pm on the day of these audio described performances. There's limited availability, so booking is essential. For more information, please contact Scottish Opera reception on 0141 248 4567 or tickets@scottishopera.org.uk.

Our Access Opera performances are also audio-described - find out more>>

Example of a Recorded Audio Introduction

Audio-described resources - The Barber of Seville

Scottish Opera · Audio-described resources - The Barber of Seville 2023

Watch Our Audio Described Films

L'elisir d'amore

Donizetti
From Thursday, 17 June 2021
More info about L'elisir d'amore

Hansel & Gretel

Humperdinck
From Wednesday, 10 February 2021
More info about Hansel & Gretel

Cosi fan tutte

Mozart
From Sunday, 13 December 2020
More info about Cosi fan tutte

The Diary of One Who Disappeared

Janáček
From Sunday, 20 September 2020
More info about The Diary of One Who Disappeared

Interested in getting involved?

We are always looking for new audio describers to join our dedicated team. If you have some time to spare and would like to find out what is involved, please contact the team using the form below.  

Contact the team 

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