A Scottish theatre says it is excited about how Auracast and similar systems can help improve the theatregoing experience for its patrons.
Earlier this spring, the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh installed Ampetronic’s Auri system in its venue, as part of its desire to ensure as many people as possible can enjoy a visit to their venue.
While it has had several homes over the years, since 1992 it has been based in a purpose-built two-theatre space in Cambridge Street.
The theatre launched in 1963 and specialises in new writing. The team says it is a “dynamic centre for performance, experience and discovery”. It adds: “Enabling people across society to access and engage with theatre is our fundamental mission”.
As part of this, it commissions and produces new productions and champions “the newest and rawest talent” with an emphasis on Scottish-based performances. Over the years, that has included Richard Wilson, Billy Connolly, Robbie Coltrane, Simon Callow and former James Bond Timothy Dalton.
Its commitment to new writing includes TravFest26, which runs from Friday, 31 July, through to Sunday, 30 August. It features work from emerging, mid‑career and internationally acclaimed playwrights, and this year’s focus is on female voices. Organisers promise stories that grapple with grief and faith, autonomy and morality, motherhood and ecology, ambition and identity, and misogyny and moral courage.
They include Eilidh Loan’s Cathy, which will star Elaine C Smith – making her first return to the Traverse in more than 25 years. It focuses on a sharp-tongued widow coming to terms with her husband’s death and the impending arrival of Christmas.
After Party is by Morna Young and promises to be an unflinching, funny and frank exploration of autonomy, love and a life-defining choice. A third premiere will be Supposing, written and directed by Zinnie Harris, and explores what happens when no one believes Sally when she says a curse has been put on her house.
There are 10 productions in total, each offering audiences something new and different.
And for many of them, they will be able to access the Traverse’s new Auri system. As with all professional-grade Auracast installations, theatregoers can bring their own Auracast-enabled devices, such as headphones, earbuds, hearing aids, or Cochlear devices, or borrow a receiver unit from the box office. They can then plug in either a personal neck loop or wired headphones to hear the Auracast. The Traverse asks that people bring their own such devices for sanitary reasons.
A spokesperson for the Traverse said: “We first heard about the Auri system through positive feedback from venues across the sector, and it was installed in Traverse 1 as part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the theatre is as accessible and welcoming as possible for audiences.
“So far, however, it has run smoothly and integrated well with our in-venue headset devices.”
As Auracast is still at an early stage of development, it should be little surprise that few visitors have their own Auracast-enabled devices and are borrowing the transmitters provided by the Traverse box office.
“One thing we’ve noticed is that fewer audience members than expected currently have Auracast-compatible hearing aids, though we recognise this is still an emerging technology. We expect awareness and uptake will grow over time as more audiences become familiar with the technology and its availability within venues,” the spokesperson added.
“We’re excited to see how systems like this can continue to support audiences and improve the experience of visiting theatres going forward.”
For more details on how the Traverse Theatre offers accessibility for anyone visiting, log on to: https://www.traverse.co.uk/about-us/your-visit/access-guide
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