Accessible Theater: How Tryater Makes Inclusion Tangible on Stage

Innovative Tools: Practical Solutions for a Better Experience

Over the past two years, Tryater has tested various practical solutions to improve the experience. The focus is on tools and technology that lower barriers:

• Smart Glasses for the deaf and hard of hearing: Visitors with hearing impairments and non-native speakers can follow live subtitles with these glasses. The glasses also have an option for a sign language interpreter on the screen.

• Audio description for the blind and visually impaired: Through headphones, an additional audio layer describes what is happening on stage. This helps people with visual impairments follow the story more easily.

• Meet and Feel: Those who order tickets with audio description get the chance to feel the set and meet the actors beforehand. This provides context and ensures a good start to the performance.

“Technology is a fantastic tool to enrich the experience,” says Annelies. “But don't forget: that technology is not an end in itself. It's a means to truly draw people into the story. It's about connection.”

Start Early: Inclusive Design in Practice

The biggest gain for Tryater? They don’t wait until the last moment. Inclusive design starts right at the drawing board. People with disabilities are involved in the creation and testing of new performances from an early stage.

“We organize test sessions and talk to visitors about their experiences,” says Annelies. “This yields more than just technical improvements. The performance becomes artistically better because you learn to look at what sensory elements mean in theater with different eyes.”

By including accessibility from the start, it becomes a natural part of the production.

Financial Check: It's More Feasible Than You Think

It’s often thought that this is unaffordable. Tryater shows that the investment, while significant, is manageable. They started with a targeted two-year pilot. With a subsidy from DigitAll, they had a budget of 150,000 euros for purchasing materials, expertise, and technology. For example, they were able to buy 10 Smart Glasses. The biggest factor, however, is time and staff commitment. Tryater has one staff member working two days a week and a coordinator for one day a week on this project. Most hours are spent just before and after the premiere (two weeks), as that's when the sign language interpreter is filmed, the technology is programmed, and the audio description is finalized. Through smart subsidies and targeted staffing, digital accessibility is therefore a strategic and achievable step.

Collaboration: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

To tackle all challenges around digital accessibility, Tryater works closely with others. They seek help from:

• Stichting Accessibility (for knowledge and expertise).

• Local care and educational institutions (for test audiences and other perspectives).

• Other cultural organizations (to share experiences about budget and approach).

“You don’t have to figure it all out yourself,” emphasizes Annelies. “The most important thing is to get the right people with the right knowledge at the table.”

The Big Win: More Than Just Adaptation

For Tryater, accessibility is an essential part of their mission to make culture accessible to everyone. It delivers immediate results, namely happy audiences. People who previously couldn’t attend theater now feel welcome. This leads to a growing and loyal audience base. Additionally, by using the tools, no distinction is made between people with or without disabilities, and the user blends into the audience. “It’s very moving when someone can fully follow a performance for the first time,” concludes Annelies. “Tryater proves: working accessibly isn’t about rules. It’s about bringing people together, each in their own way.”