Simon Startin is a Visually impaired Actor, Playwright, Director and Activist who has been playing The Blind Profit Tireseus in a thrilling new version of Euripides’ timeless tragedy Bacchae at the National Theatre.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Simon during the run of Bacchae at the National Theatre and not long after attending one of the audio described performances of the production to firstly find out why Simon wanted to study theatre at the Royal Welsh Academy of Music and Drama, how he found it during the rehearsal process and preparing to play Tireseus on the National Theatre’s Olivier stage, what help he needs when performing as a visually impaired actor and whether it was the right casting for him to be playing the blind profit in Bacchae.

To find out more about access at the national Theatre including details of audio described performances of NT productions do visit - https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/your-visit/access/

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Let’s catch up with blind skateboarder Brett Devloo to hear about his upcoming documentary…

For the first time this year the charity Cards for Good Causes who through their website and pop-up shops sell a range of cards and gifts supporting many charities will be also selling in a number of their shops Braille Christmas cards in aid of the RNIB with an in-store facility to be able to print personalised Braille messages in the cards too.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Christine Ansell, chief Executive of Cards for Good Causes to give some background to the history of the charity and why they decided to offer Braille cards with the personalised in-store Braille message writing facility too. 

To find out more about cards for Good Causes and the locations of their pop-up shops do visit - https://cardsforcharity.co.uk

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RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the next of his regular audio described theatre reviews.

This week we have a new version of Edmond Rostand’s ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’ at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Swan Theatre, which Vidar says is one of the best productions he has seen in Stratford-upon-Avon with description by Professional Audio Describers Emily Magdij and Annette Stocken.

About ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’ 

‘No master to serve, no leash to bear. I walk as I please, and I speak as I dare.'

 

Poet, soldier and philosopher. Cyrano de Bergerac burns with brilliance. He's fiercely funny and intensely romantic – but behind the veil of wit is one large problem: his nose.

 

Haunted by doubts and too proud to beg, he watches from the shadows as Roxane – bold, beautiful and seemingly unreachable – falls for another man, Christian. But this handsome, tongue-tied young suitor knows his only hope of charming Roxane is to seduce her with words. And only one person can help…

 

Olivier Award-winning actor Adrian Lester (Riviera, Hustle, National Theatre Othello and Henry V) is Cyrano. Director Simon Evans (Staged, The Dazzle, A Day in the Death of Joe Egg) co-adapts with Debris Stevenson (Poet in Da Corner, My Brother’s a Genius), bringing new life to this thrilling, lyrical tale of love and lies, longing and disguise.

For more about access at the Royal Shakespeare Company including details of audio described performances do visit - https://www.rsc.org.uk/your-visit/access

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Each month, RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell is joined by some of the RNIB Campaigns Team to discuss some of the big projects they’re working on.

This month’s topics include a call for your help with the assessment debate for Personal Independence Payments and get your MP to a Parliamentary event to support better vision rehabilitation.

If you’d like more information on campaigns or want to get involved , email [email protected]

You can visit rnib.org.uk/news 

or call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999

Follow @RNIB_Campaigns on your socials or search for RNIB Campaigns

#RNIBConnect

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UK sight loss charity RNIB is calling for improved access to Vision rehabilitation Services to help those losing their sight.

RNIBs Allan Russel spoke to Alexis Horam to find out why the services are so vital and what are the problems faced by staff.

Join RNIB's call to action and sign our petition: https://bit.ly/RNIBOutOfSight

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In this podcast, Hubert chats to Claire Maxwell from our very own shop, as she gives us the lowdown of what's available for customers who would like to start getting ready for Christmas early.

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New research published by RNIB shows delays to support following a sight loss diagnosis are leaving blind and partially sighted people at risk.

Titled Life on Pause, the report shows a fifth of local authorities in England left people waiting for more than a year for a vision rehabilitation assessment and subsequent support. Whilst 85 per cent of local authorities missed the RNIB recommended timeframe to offer assessments.

This means thousands of people with sight loss remain Out of Sight and unable to access the support they need to live life to the full.

Joining us now to share her experience of accessing rehabilitation services and the importance of being able to access them early on is Bhavini Makwana.

Join RNIB's call to action and sign our petition: https://bit.ly/RNIBOutOfSight

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Each week, RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell sits down with Matt Stringer, CEO of RNIB, to look at some of the big stories coming from the UK sight loss charity.

This week Matt talks about the launch of the Out Of Sight campaign and petition, there’s a look ahead to some big events in November and a Christmas nod to the RNIB shop.

If you, or someone you know, would like information on the support and services available from RNIB, go to www.rnib.org.uk

You can call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or ask your Amazon device to call RNIB's Helpline.

#RNIBConnect

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RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the next of his regular audio described theatre reviews.

This week we have the sensational story of the Mitford sister’s with 'The Party Girls' at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre with description by Professional Audio Describer Carolyn Smith.

About ‘The Party Girls’

The glamorous Mitford girls cut a glorious swathe through pre-war high society, amidst the glittering world of debutantes and dukes. But as Fascism rises and political storm clouds crackle over carefree country houses, the bonds of sisterhood are threatened by new and treacherous desires.

Amy Rosenthal’s compelling, touching and witty new play explores the true story of a family riven by political extremism, seen through the eyes of Jessica (Decca) Mitford as she battles to stay true to her beliefs.

Nancy aspires to be a celebrated novelist, Diana and Unity fall for the dangerous, charismatic leaders of the Far Right in Britain and Germany, and Debo sets her cap at a Duke. Meanwhile Decca crosses continents in her own passionate pursuit of love – but can she ever escape her sisters and her past?

To find out more about access at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre do visit - https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/your-visit/accessibility/

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