RNIB Connect

We have highlights of some great Northern Ballet productions with audio described performances this autumn and into 2027 as RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey catches up with Northern Ballet’s Artistic Associate and Audio Describer Pippa Moore MBE.

Northern Ballet productions highlighted included -

Last chance to catch Gentleman Jack with audio described performances at the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, Saturday 5 September, 2.30pm, touch tour 12.15pm and at Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Friday 2 April 2027, 7.30pm, touch tour 5.45pm,

Michael Pink’s production of Cinderella for Milwaukee Ballet is brought to life at a number of venues this autumn and up to Christmas by Northern Ballet with described performances and touch tours at Nottingham Theatre Royal, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Norwich Theatre Royal and Leeds Grand Theatre,

and Northern Ballet’s production of Wuthering Heights will be touring through spring and into early summer 2027 with audio described performances and touch tours.

To find out more about the audio described performances of Gentleman Jack, Cinderella and Wuthering Heights plus many more do visit the access pages of the Northern Ballet website - https://northernballet.com/accessibility

Let’s find out about another audio described performances at the Edinburgh International festival. David Hogg has been speaking to Audio Describer Caroline Jacquet…

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

This week Simon talks about Metro Bank, Specsavers and some good news from Loganair.

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Each month, RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell is joined by Paula Beattie, from RNIB Northern Ireland’s campaigns team to discuss some of the big projects they’re working on.
This month’s topics include prep for next year’s elections and an important part in the future of neighbourhood health care.
If you’d like to find out more, or get involved in campaigning, email [email protected]

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With the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in full swing at the moment RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with RNIB Scotland Volunteer Sighted Guide Jessica and visually impaired festival goer Bilal to find out how the sighted guiding service has been working for them both as Jessica has helped Bilal get to see a couple of great shows during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026.

More details about the sighted guide service and how to apply for a guide for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026 can be found by visiting - https://www.edfringe.com/experience/accessibility/sighted-guide-service/

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The VocalEyes Describing Heritage: Co-creating Access Project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund with the input of blind and partially sighted people from a number of Thomas Pocklington Trust Sight Loss Councils explores, through the co-creation of audio description in 10 heritage hubs across the country, ways of improving access to museums, galleries and heritage sites for visually impaired people.

Now that all of the 10 museum hubs have received their two-day training workshops Lindsay Bywood, VocalEyes Describing Heritage Project manager gives RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey an update on the progress of the project, how those workshops went for the museum staff and visually impaired people along with a look forward to the creation of the recorded audio descriptions.

To find out more about the Describing Heritage project and more on audio description of the arts do visit the VocalEyes website - https://vocaleyes.co.uk

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The Collective Gallery in Edinburgh is running a free audio described tour on Sunday 30 August from 2pm of both ‘Afterlife’ by Katie Paterson and ‘There Is No Beginning, As There Is No End’ by Richard Maguire lead by Artist Juliana Capes.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Juliana and Claire Craig, Collective Gallery’s Programme Manager and Curator, to find out more about both Artist’s and how their work will be brought to life for blind and partially sighted people through the audio-described tour.

To find out more about the Collective Gallery and book your place on the audio-described exhibition tour on Sunday 30 August at 2pm do visit - https://www.collective-edinburgh.art/event/audio-described-tour-afterlife/

Despite her sight loss condition, Debbie Miller has climbed the career ladder from online sales, through customer service leadership positions and is now the Chief Operations Officer for the UK sight loss charity RNIB.
RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to Debbie to learn more about her career ladder, coming to terms with a sight loss condition and what advice she has for blind and partially sighted people, when it comes to succeeding in employment.

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Each month, RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell talks with Anne Hornsby from MindsEye Description to look at some forthcoming events with Audio Description.
AD makes television, movies, galleries  and other arts events more inclusive, accessible and enjoyable for blind and partially sighted people.
This month they’re looking at a couple of outdoor festivals, a thought provoking play in Keswick and art at the Lowry.
If you'd like more information on audio described events, go to www.mindseyedescription.co.uk

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

This week Simon talks about two positive NHS stories, importance of eye checks, and free sighted guides for the Edinburgh Festival.

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 Smart speaker to call RNIB's Helpline.

#RNIBConnect