As the national Theatre continues to make their productions accessible to everyone on Wednesday 5 February 2025 1,000 primary school children from within Greater London attended a schools performance of ‘Ballet Shoes’ in the National Theatre’s Olivier Theatre with audio description and a pre show touch tour for the young visually impaired children from the primary schools too.

The live description for ‘Ballet Shoes’ was delivered by Eleanor Stollery, a young visually impaired Actor, Voice Over Artist and Audio Describer who had previously delivered the live description for the national Theatre’s schools performance of ‘The Witches’ too. 

RNIB Connect Radios Toby Davey went along to the schools performance of ‘Ballet Shoes’ with Eleanor’s live audio description and firstly explored through touch some of the props from ‘Ballet Shoes’ that were on display as part of the pre show touch tour for the young visually impaired children. 

As part of the touch tour there was also a ballet lesson for the young visually impaired children so that they could experience some of the ballet moves that feature in ‘Ballet Shoes’.  Shortly after the ballet lesson Toby caught up with a group of visually impaired Primary School children to find out how they had found the touch tour and that ballet lesson.  

Toby also chatted with Ellara Wakely, Head of Schools Engagement at the National Theatre to find out more about why the National Theatre wanted to make the schools performance of ‘Ballet Shoes’ accessible to young visually impaired children.

Toby of course also caught up with Eleanor just after the end of the performance to find out how it had all gone for Eleanor delivering the live audio description for Ballet Shoes’ at the national Theatre’s Olivier Theatre.

To find out more about the National Theatre’s programme, opportunities and resources for primary, secondary, further education or at SEND/SEMH schools do email [email protected] or visit - https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/learn-explore/schools/

And for more about access at the National Theatre including details of audio described performances, do visit - https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/your-visit/access/

(Image shows one of the children on the touch tour being shown one of the props from the production, an animals skull mounted on a wooden plaque. Photograph credit Natalie Mitchell)