The performance has been designed specifically for communicating music through cochlear implants that traditionally are unable to discern between music and generic sound.
Sound artist and composer Robin Fox led the team commissioned to create the composition, which was funded by the Australian Network for Art and Technology and run by Melbourne's Bionic Ear Institute, according to a report published in The Age online.
The two operas and their audio described sessions are:
The Magic Flute by Mozart
Sunday 20 March 3.00pm at the Playhouse Theatre
Tactile Tour at 2.00pm
Albert Herring by Britten
Monday 25 July 6:30pm at the Playhouse Theatre
Tactile Tour at 5.00pm
Bookings can be made through any Ticketmaster outlet or phone 1300 182 183.
For more news on audio described arts, visit our Arts News page.
Using captions allows a wider range of people to enjoy the theatre experience. Essential for the 4.5 million Australians who are Deaf or hearing impaired, captions are also beneficial for children and those who speak English as a second language.
Captions can also be useful for hearing theatre patrons, especially when the performance involves dialects or strong accents, when words are being sung or when actors are speaking and singing off-stage.
Captions and audio description can be used to enhance access to theatre, video, exhibits at museums and galleries, even architecture and historical sites.
AirScript's developers, Cambridge Consultants, hopes the handsets will attract more tourists to theatres, but as well as this market, a secondary audience is Deaf and hearing impaired patrons who can use the device to read English subtitles.
The subtitles, received over WiFi on handsets, scroll throughout live performances.
Perth's Playhouse Theatre would like to remind patrons that the opportunity to purchase audio description tickets for Onward Productions' presentation of The Deep Blue Sea will close on Wednesday 24 November.
