News

CALLING GLASGOW-BASED VISUALLY IMPAIRED COMMUNITY - 25 Apr 2003

This summer/autumn will see the launch of BLINDSIGHT, a new Glasgow-based arts project by Untitled Projects.

BLINDSIGHT is a new piece of theatre, and is a unique collaboration between visually impaired and sighted artists with a parallel Outreach Programme. The project is unique in its approach to mixed ability casting, with visually impaired professional performers working alongside sighted performers.

BLINDSIGHT is an exciting arts event, and will include live computer generated VJ (video jockey) imagery and specially commissioned soundtrack. All performances will have integrated Audio Description to maximise access to visually impaired audiences. The performance readdresses preconceptions of the visually impaired communitys place within society. It challenges the way in which the sighted community perceives the world of the visually impaired,the characters are not victims, but young people with tangled relationships and jealous desires, confronting the boundaries of an institution that prescribes their lives. Their life is an expansion of the world of the sighted.

The accompanying Outreach Programme promises to be a unique and stimulating project. High quality drama training will be provided for a group of young visually impaired participants. This training, specifically tailored to visually impaired participants, is one-of-a-kind in Scotland. The culmination of this training will be a public performance at Tramway. It is specifically geared to visually impaired young people, between the ages of 16 and 30. The workshop leaders will be professionals with specific experience in delivering drama training to young people who have specific requirements.

The workshop participants will have the opportunity to contribute to the professional production of BLINDSIGHT, by acting as a preview audience to test the production throughout its creation. The participants will also advise on the development of integrated Audio Description in BLINDSIGHT. The integrated Audio Description, delivered by the performers to all members of the audience at all performances, will be the first experiment of its kind in Scotland.

Untitled Projects are currently seeking participants for our Outreach Project. If the project sounds of interest to you, or you would like further details, then please contact Johnny at johnwmcknight@aol.com or telephone 07985 637 954.