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 time we have the musical comedy that is ‘The Addams Family’ as the current tour visited the Birmingham Hippodrome with description by Professional Audio Describer Jonathan Nash.

About ‘The Addams Family’

Following two hugely successful UK tours, and sold-out concerts at The London Palladium last year, everyone’s favourite kooky family are back on stage this summer in The Addams Family, starring Alexandra Burke (The X Factor, Sister Act, The Bodyguard) as Morticia, Lesley Joseph (Birds of a Feather, Young Frankenstein, Sister Act) as Grandma, Clive Rowe (The Prince of Egypt, Sister Act, A Christmas Carol) as Uncle Fester and Ricardo Afonso (Jesus Christ Superstar, Thriller Live, We Will Rock You) as Gomez.

The Addams Family is the spectacular musical comedy from Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice (writers of the multi award-winning hit musical Jersey Boys), with music and lyrics by Tony Award-nominated Andrew Lippa, based on the characters created by Charles Addams.

Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, is all grown up and has a shocking secret that only Gomez knows. She’s fallen in love with a sweet, young man from a respectable family. With his cherished Morticia in the dark will Gomez manage to keep his daughter’s secret until the two families meet for a fateful dinner with hilarious consequences Join them, plus Uncle Fester, Lurch, Pugsley, Grandma and more for a heart-warming story of love, family and friendship… with a twist!

Featuring a live orchestra and extraordinary original score The Addams Family is sure to entertain whether you are 7 or 307!

For more about the current tour of this vibrant gothic comedy musical that is The Adams Family along with details of performances near you do visit - https://theaddamsfamily.co.uk/uk-tour

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On Thursday 14th of August, following an extensive refurbishment, RNIB Scotland officially re-opened their Edinburgh HQ.

Allan Russell went ahead to the grand re-opening to check it out for himself. 

Image shows from left to right: James Adams, Sarah Boyack MSP, Matt Stringer, and finally Kirin Saeed cutting the pink ribbon. Matt is clapping as he stands behind Sarah and Kirin. James is standing behind them all and leaning casually against the gate at the front entrance to the building. They're all smiling. 

Sight Village exhibitions are a great way to learn more about products and services designed for blind and partially sighted people in your area. Hywel Davies has been hearing all about plans for this year’s Sight Village North West.

For more information, visit the Sight Village website - Sight Village Blackpool 2025 - Queen Alexandra College

Accessible technology company ‘Envision’ launched their new ‘Ally Solos Glasses’ on August the 14th. Tech Talk’s Callum Stoneman spoke to the team behind the wearable, hands-free AI glasses.

You can hear a longer version of Callum’s conversation with Envision on next week’s episode of Tech Talk.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Kris Wallace, daughter Jess, and other family members will take on the Edinburgh Kiltwalk to raise funds for UK sight loss charity RNIB.

Kris spoke with RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell about the challenge, the prep and why Jess is leading the charge.

If you’d like to sponsor Jess and her family go to www.justgiving.com/team/jessjollywalkers

#RNIBConnect

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Now for the next in our regular slots here on RNIB Connect Radio highlighting what is on offer at the National Theatre in London for blind and partially sighted people with audio description.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined again by David Bellwood, Head of Access at the National Theatre to chat about a few up-coming audio described shows at the NT and a couple that are available online with audio description via National Theatre at Home.

Audio described performances included: 

Inter Alia’ - Saturday 23 August 2.30pm, touch tour at 12.30pm and Friday 12 September 7.30pm, touch tour 5.30pm, National Theatre’s Lyttelton Theatre

Bacchae - Saturday 4 October 2.30pm, touch tour 12.30pm and Friday 24 October 7.30pm, touch tour 5.30pm, National Theatre’s Olivier Theatre

Till the Stars Come Down - Wednesday 10 September, 7.30pm, Theatre Royal Haymarket, London

Dear England on tour from 15 September

From National Theatre at Home with audio description David recommended ‘A Tupperware of Ashes’ and ‘Mosquitos’.

To find out more about the National Theatre’s audio description offer and services for blind and partially sighted people do either call the NT on 020 7452 3961 or visit the NT website - https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

And for more about National Theatre at Home and to view many theatre productions online with audio description do visit - https://www.ntathome.com

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The Pleasance Theatre Trust has been working with Sight Scotland to provide visual awareness training to over 250 of their Edinburgh Festival Fringe staff to make the experience of visiting one of their Pleasance Fringe venues as accessible as possible for visually impaired festival goers as well as offering more audio described performances this year too.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Jonny Patton, Head of Theatre Edinburgh for Pleasance to firstly give a bit of background to the history of the presence of this famous venue at the Fringe, how the visual awareness training went with Sight Scotland and more about some of the described shows at the many Pleasance venues at this year’s Fringe.

For listings of shows that include access at the many Pleasance venues do visit - 

https://www.pleasance.co.uk/events/accessible  

And to find out more about access generally at the many Pleasance venues at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025 do visit -

https://www.pleasance.co.uk/edinburgh-access 

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Each week, on RNIB Connect Radio we sit 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 began with his review of RNIB’s very own stand-up comedian Tom Skelton and his Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025 show ‘Visually Impaired Papa’, then looking forward to the official opening of the refurbished RNIB Scotland office in Hill Side Crescent, Edinburgh next week plus some news around accessible voting and the RNIB’s presence at the up-coming Party Political Conferences this autumn including a panel event at the Labour Party Conference.

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 smart speaker to call RNIB's Helpline.

#RNIBConnect

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History meets punk rock and ballet in an exciting production at this year’s Edinburgh International Festival.

Amelia spoke to Co-Audio Describer Emma-Jane McHenry to learn more about the production and her process along with Co-Audio Describer Fiona Pedgrift.

Learn more about the production here - Mary, Queen of Scots | Edinburgh International Festival

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What are zines and how have they been used in disability justice?

Amelia spoke to Adam Rose, the Co-curator of the Zines display, and Jake Blackavar, a Visitor Experience and Engagement Facilitator, to learn about tactile and audio zines and their upcoming audio described tours of the Wellcome Collection's exhibition.

Learn more about Zines Forever! on the The Wellcome Collection Website - Zines Forever! DIY Publishing and Disability Justice | Wellcome Collection

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