Today, I am writing to you from inside the Arena of the Royal Albert Hall, and today is the first ever Relaxed Prom.
A relaxed prom is “A concert suitable for children and adults with autism, sensory and communication impairments and learning disabilities, as well as individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind and partially sighted.
Presented by conductor Grant Llewellyn and musician Andy Pidcock. The first-ever Relaxed Prom is a fun and interactive musical experience in a welcoming environment. There are plenty of opportunities for participation.”
https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/proms/proms-2017/prom-19-relaxed-prom/
Accessible in British Sign Language
This is a wonderful opportunity for people to have full access to the world-renowned Proms. They are showcasing music, making it accessible in British Sign Language.
Not only have the Royal Albert Hall team ensured that the Proms itself is relaxed and accessible. They have paid attention to the whole walkthrough customer journey. Placing Sign Language Interpreters at key points throughout the hall to ensure smooth communication for all deaf customers.
The incorporation of the deaf poet – Donna Williams was really insightful. It gave a great opportunity for the deaf audience to understand the narrative behind each piece of music. In the Waltz, Williams Tell overture and The Sugar plum fairy, where Donna gives a beautiful monologue describing the experience of a jewellery box with a ballerina inside.
The event was well enjoyed, with the children dancing and the audience participating in the Mexican wave and the songs. One of these songs was A, E, I, O, U. The entire audience joined in with Fingerspelling and singing along. It was a great opportunity to incorporate BSL into the event.
Providing BSL/English Interpreters for such a fantastic event was a privilege, as well as seeing such an inclusive atmosphere. Well done to the Royal Albert Hall and BBC for such a big vision and a great success!
Check out this article on The Cinema Subtitling Challenge
