Each month, RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell talks with Anne Hornsby from MindsEye Description. 

Audio Description makes television, movies, galleries  and other arts venues accessible and enjoyable for blind and partially sighted people.

AD is a narration describing what is physically happening, say on stage, TV or the big screen.

It can also describe works of art, places of interest or exhibits.

This month they look at some pantos and a Da Da Fest launch event

If you'd like more information on audio described events, go to www.mindseyedescription.co.uk

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A new device is hoping to make communication easier between music students and their teachers. 

Hywel Davies has been speaking to the team behind the ‘Tap Tap’.

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Time for our first winter warmer, where we discuss ways to enjoy and look after yourself over the colder months

Sometimes it can be tough to choose a meaningful gift, but Amelia and Hubert are here to help with some personalised, inexpensive gift ideas for your close ones. 

Find more gift inspiration in the RNIB Shop - https://shop.rnib.org.uk/gifts

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Robert Kirkwood talks to the RNIB Bookshare Team Leader Rochelle Davis-Pretsell to find out about the service, who can use it and hears about a big change going on behind the scenes.

Celebrate the life of your loved one by supporting a charity in their memory. 

Our David Hogg spoke with RNIB's Hazel Stirling about Remember a Loved One This Christmas and how it can help make the world a better place for blind and partially sighted people.

Find out more here: Remember a loved one - celebrate their life | RNIB | RNIB

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Immerse yourself in a world of magic and mayhem with 'It's Your Role' as troupe of professional actors brings the world of Dungeons & Dragons to life.

Each live D&D show is captured in high definition audio and then made available in the RNIB library with the first two episodes available right now. Robert Kirkwood finds out more ...

The image features a promotional poster with a fantasy-themed design. At the center is a golden 20-sided die (D20) commonly associated with tabletop role-playing games, bearing the text "It's Your Role" across it on a ribbon banner. The die is surrounded by a glowing magical aura.

Around the die are five people:

Top Center: A person with a reddish beard, wearing an orange blazer. Their hands are clasped together as if plotting or calculating something.

Top Right: A person with short, dark hair, holding a glowing flame in their hand, representing a magical ability.

Top Left: A person holding a frothy mug, suggesting a tavern setting or a jovial character.

Bottom Left: A person wearing a green sweater and holding up a 12-sided die (D12) with an excited or playful expression.

Bottom Right: A person with dark hair, a mustache, and a white shirt, holding an open book as if reciting or referencing spells.

A mysterious silhouette with a question mark overlays the die, hinting at an unknown or missing member. The background is a mystical blue with swirling magical patterns and decorative golden embellishments in the corners. 

The Royal Ballet and Opera House in London continue their programme of access to their productions for blind and partially sighted people with both live and recorded audio description for their current production of Puccini’s La Bohème from 18 December 2024 into January 2025. 

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Principal Guest Conductor Designate - Speranza Scappucci, freelance Audio Describer - Julia Grundy and Paul Adams - Access manager at The Royal Opera House for an overview to the story of La Bohème, what blind and partially sighted people might expect from either attending the live audio described performance on Wednesday 18 December 2024 at 7.30pm with a touch tour at 6.30pm or from the recorded audio description at the remaining performances throughout December and into January 2025.

About Puccini’s La Bohème 

Set in 19th-century Paris, La Bohème is about the lives of a group of struggling young artists. Based on Henry Murger’s novel Scenes de la vie de Bohème, the opera follows a love story between a poet named Rodolfo and Mimi, a seamstress, as they are forced to face the challenges of Mimi’s declining health and the realities of living in Paris’ Latin Quarter during the 1830s. The relationships and hardships faced by the pair along with their friends Marcello and Musetta are explored, alongside the effects of poverty, illness and youthful passion. A poignant take on the fleeting nature of happiness, La Bohème is an everlasting tale of tragic romance.

To find out more about Puccini’s La Bohème at The Royal Opera House in London, book your tickets for one of the up-coming audio described performances do visit the following website link and you can always of course email [email protected] if you have any enquiries regarding access at The Royal ballet and Opera House. https://www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-events/la-boheme-details


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The National galleries of Scotland host monthly descriptive tours and workshops for blind and partially sighted art lovers.

Their next event 'Dürer to Van Dyck - Drawings from Chatsworth House' explores drawings and watercolours a spectacular group of some 50 Flemish, Dutch, Early Netherlandish, and German drawings and watercolours, spanning from about 1500 to 1700.

The session takes place in person at The National Gallery on Wednesday 20 November 2024, 10.15am–3.30pm.

Learn more on the NGS website - Visually Impaired Programme Live | Dürer to Van Dyck | National Galleries of Scotland

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Each week, RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell sits down with Matt Stringer, CEO of RNIB, to look at some of the big stories coming from the UK sight loss charity.

This week Matt talks about the new Eyeware tech launch, UK Ministerial meetings and Christmas!

If you, or someone you know, would like information on the support and services available from RNIB, go to www.rnib.org.uk

You can also call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or ask Alexa to call RNIB's Helpline.
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RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the next in his regular Connect Radio theatre reviews. 

This week Vidar was reviewing the critically acclaimed new musical ‘Becoming Nancy’ at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre with description by Professional audio describer Carolyn Smith.

About Becoming Nancy 

A new musical about first love and finding your voice! Adapted from Terry Ronald’s best-selling novel – this critically and audience acclaimed new musical!

It’s 1979 and David Starr is unquestionably one of the smartest, most talented sixth-formers in East Dulwich – he’s got a wild imagination, a vocal range to die for, and a bedroom plastered with posters of his beloved pop idols: Blondie, Sting, and Kate Bush. But being clever, with a great taste in music may not be enough to get him through secondary school, where, to his great surprise, he’s just been given the female lead in the school play, Oliver… The unconventional casting sends shockwaves through David’s small town, first with David, and then with his parents, his aunt, and his classmates.

Before long, it seems like everybody has an opinion on whether David should go on with the show, inspiring him to turn to his no-nonsense best friend Frances and his unlikely co-star Maxie, the enigmatic captain of the football team.

With smash-hit songs by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, Becoming Nancy is the feel good, joyous, new musical that weaves a story of family and first loves, with the courage it takes to finFor more about ‘Becoming Nancy’ do visit the production website - https://www.becomingnancymusical.com

To find out about audio described performances and general access at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre do visit the access pages of their website - https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/your-visit/accessibility/


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Scottish Ballet will once again take to the road with a festive classic, that will feature audio description for blind and partially sighted patrons.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to Emma-Jane McHenry to hear more about Nutcracker…

If you’d like more info on Scottish Ballet and accessible performances, go to www.scottishballet.co.uk

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