STAGETEXT - If you havent been to a stagetext performance yet here are the pro's and con's

The problem with STAGETEXT is where to locate it in the theatre. It may be located at either side or one side of the stage. Not the best place. Imagine watching TV with subtitles that are on the wall either side of the TV. Its difficult to follow, you have to keep switching from the action to the STAGETEXT.

Best place to put STAGETEXT is on the bottom of the stage. Like subtitles are at the bottom of the TV screen.

The other problem is when you book a ticket at the theatre, is where to sit? Some people prefer to sit in the middle of the rows J,K,M so they can see the stage clearly but then need to swivel their head constantly to wherever the STAGETEXT is located. Some prefer to sit very close to the text on either side but then have to swivel their head to the stage for the action. Unless STAGETEXT is lcated on the stage in the middle, wherever you sit will involve some head swivelling.

STAGETEXT however is great for regional accent differentation to some extent. In most performances, STAGETEXT will show if someone is using common (non RP) english by writing the text as they say it, for example:

'ere is the person I was lookin' for  (Here is the person I was looking for)

And if there is a musical number in the performance, then this is identified by a music note symbol, just like subtitles on TV are identified with a # sign or similar if the word is sung.

STAGETEXT may have its problems with where to locate the text, but it is still a blessing to lipreaders and deafened people and the main change needed is that more theatres should use it and for more than the standard one performance.

Let RLRA know of any STAGETEXT views, comments or personal observations................

TOP 5 things that hinder lipreading! - by Helen-Louisa at RLRA

Chewing Gum - To a hearing person, imagine trying to watch a TV thats jumping up and down the room. Or listening to an MP3 thats keeps on skipping notes. Impossible? That is what its like to someone trying to lipread a person chewing gum. Its all garbled.

Chewing fingers/lips - Noooooo! Do not chew your fingers/lips whilst we are trying to lipread you.

Beards - We dont expect you to shave off your beard just to talk to us, but it can make lipreading more difficult as we read jaw patterns as well as lips. So....if you have a beard, just make your lip patterns more pronounced when speaking to a lipreader. It can help.

Candlelit Dinners - Not the best environment for a lipreader. The majority of us need good lighting to be able to lipread you.

Hats - These can create a shadow on the face which distort the light and hinders our lipreading attempt. For politeness, removing your hat would be wonderful.

What are your top 5 things that hinder lipreading?...................

Why is it that shopkeepers tend to 'clam up' when they realise you are deaf? A typical situation at the till may go like this:

(Shop assistant): Have you got a reward card?

(Lipreader has head down packing bags and cant hear)

(Shop Assistant): Hello? Have you got a reward card

(Lipreader): Sorry no, Im deaf so I didnt hear you, could you repeat the question so I can lipread?

(Shopkeeper): .......'Silence'........ (totally ignores customer, takes payment and moves onto next person)

Maybe this just happens to me, but do share your views with RLRA.