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Kinky Boots and Benidorm, Manchester's Palace Theatre and Opera

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Kinky Boots and Benidorm, Manchester's Palace Theatre and Opera A View On Access – Kinky Boots and Benidorm at Manchester’s Theatres. For the Audio of this Review click here. Both the Palace and Opera House are part of the ATG group and they are passionate about accessible performances and provide a wide range of audio described performances throughout the year at both venues. Kinky Boots – Took place on November 28th 2019 at the Opera House with a touch tour at 5.30pm Benidorm – Took place on November 29th 2019 at the Palace Theatre with a touch tour at 6.30pm Audio description provided by Minds Eye Arts with Anne Hornsby describing Kinky Boots and Chris Berry describing Benidorm. Kinky Boots is Based on the 2005 British film Kinky Boots, written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth and inspired by true events, the musical tells the story of Charlie Price. Having inherited a shoe factory from his father, Charlie forms an unlikely partnership with cabaret performer and drag queen Lola to produce a line of high-heeled boots and save the business. In the process, Charlie and Lola discover that they are not so different after all. This concept made a good movie but it made an absolutely fabulous Musical that transfers to the stage brilliantly together with a breath taking stage design and perfectly cast company It’s also a very visual show that is action packed so it is of course great news that it was audio described with a touch tour The touch tour took place at 5.30pm, everyone met at the opera houses stage door where we were met by access champion Abi and audio describer Anne Hornsby and around 7 patrons were led on to the fantastic stage setting that resembled a shoe factory in Northampton together with conveyor belts and a upstairs office level. There was also an array of Lavish costumes, a pub/club set piece, Many pairs of Shoes in boxes and countless 6ft boots with 4 inch heels in many styles and colours. Anne led the tour assisted by the stage manager and Abi. This tour was a wonderful opportunity for all those visually impaired to get on stage and to engage with all the physical and visual aspects of the show and bring it all to life in a sensory and interactive way Although there were no cast members present it was still an invaluable and enjoyable experience for those involved The touch tour finished around 6.05pm and we all had to time to go off for some refreshment in time to return by 7.10pm where we were issued with a headset or mobile connect IPOD and I took my seat for the introduction. Anne gave a thorough detailed overview of Kinky boots cramming so much information into 15 minutes, from all the sets, props, costumes, scene changes, characters and actors playing them. Going straight into the description at 7.30pm Anne described part 1 and 2 skilfully and professionally engaging with the listener totally becoming a friendly guide in your ear navigating you around all the action and drama, detailing entrances and exits, and the unravelling of situations etc.. Anne is expert at knowing what to say at all the right moments, easing in and out of all the dialogue spoken on stage never sounding intrusive. She also went out of her way to check in the interval that there were no technical issues and everyone was happy. The Staff at the opera House also offered great customer service and helped any way they good to make the theatre experience the best it could be for those with blind and partially sighted. The audio described performance of Benidorm took place the following night Thursday the 29th of November with a touch tour at 6.30pm, Introduction at 7.15pm with show starting at 7.30pm Benidorm is a stage version based on the cult comedy TV show by Derren Litten that has been entertaining audiences for over a decade, set around the antics of the famous Alicante hotel the Solana. Featuring some of the most popular characters including Mateo, Jaqueline, Joyce Temple Savage, Liam and Kenneth and all the actors who portrayed them on the TV. Chris Berry was describing for Minds Eye Arts, meeting the participants at the stage door with Access champion Abi at 6.30 where we all made our way to the stage, assistance was offered for anyone who needed it. The touch tour was a fabulous opportunity for the small group taking part to experience up close the fantastic recreation of sets on stage that brings this much loved world to life We got to explore, the hotel reception area, cut outs of hotel buildings, The bar from the side of the pool, and countless props and costumes, including cocktails, an inflatable crocodile, sunbeds, a side set of a swimming pool with blue mosaic tiles, and Temple savages desk. It was insightful and beneficial to touch and feel every aspect and the tour helped to bring this exciting show to life and give it an extra sense of dimension. After the tour around 7pm we were all issued with headsets or mobile connect, and we took our seats ready for the introduction, Chris Berry is a dedicated describer who puts so much time and commitment into making sure he knows about every part of the show and prepares his script accordingly delivering the information in a professional confident manner. His introduction covered everything from stage design, set outlines, props, costumes and characters and company, he went on to describe part 1 brilliantly punctuating and illustrating all the drama, comedy and set pieces, detailing entrances and exits and every action big or small. Weaving his way in and out of the soundscape of the show naturally in an enjoyable and informative way. The palace theatre is committed to access and this shows as they work hard to make a visit to the theatre for anyone blind or visually impaired extra special and totally inclusive. The audio described performances coming up are: Jersey Boys at the Palace theatre on February 12th at 7.30pm. Motown The Musical on Wednesday 13th of March 7.30pm at the Opera House. Les Miserables – on Tuesday 19th of March at 2019 at 7.30pm at the Palace Theatre. And the King and I at the Opera House on Thursday 9th of May 2019 at 7.30pm. There will be a touch tour before each performance, to check on times you can email access champion. [email protected] to book tickets you can call the access line on free phone no 0800 912 6971 .
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