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Sheffield Theatres at centre of blind commentary pay row | Sheffield Theatres at centre of blind commentary pay row |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Sheffield Theatres has been accused of leaving blind audience members to "rely on charity for their rights" after it emerged audio describers are not paid. | Sheffield Theatres has been accused of leaving blind audience members to "rely on charity for their rights" after it emerged audio describers are not paid. |
Jane Ensell quit her post as an audio describer after eight years saying that to depend on volunteers was "unfair on the audience". | Jane Ensell quit her post as an audio describer after eight years saying that to depend on volunteers was "unfair on the audience". |
She said it was the only unpaid role in the organisation. | She said it was the only unpaid role in the organisation. |
Sheffield Theatres which runs the Crucible, Lyceum and Studio theatres said the position was under review. | Sheffield Theatres which runs the Crucible, Lyceum and Studio theatres said the position was under review. |
Miss Ensell said: "Everyone else, the marketing team, the actors, the cleaning staff, and, importantly, the [sign language] interpreters and the captioners are paid, so services for deaf audiences are paid but, historically, the audio describers have been volunteers. | Miss Ensell said: "Everyone else, the marketing team, the actors, the cleaning staff, and, importantly, the [sign language] interpreters and the captioners are paid, so services for deaf audiences are paid but, historically, the audio describers have been volunteers. |
"Some of my colleagues have been there for as long as 25 years and it was far more usual back then [not to be paid] but this is 2019 and equality of access is law and we should not be expecting disabled people to rely on charity for their rights." | "Some of my colleagues have been there for as long as 25 years and it was far more usual back then [not to be paid] but this is 2019 and equality of access is law and we should not be expecting disabled people to rely on charity for their rights." |
The role involves describing the "visual elements of a production" such as scenery, costumes, visual jokes or dances to audience members wearing headsets. | The role involves describing the "visual elements of a production" such as scenery, costumes, visual jokes or dances to audience members wearing headsets. |
Miss Ensell said audio describers at other UK theatres can be paid in the region of £350 to prepare and present a script for a performance. | Miss Ensell said audio describers at other UK theatres can be paid in the region of £350 to prepare and present a script for a performance. |
She said she had raised the pay issue four years ago and did not want to leave her role but accused Sheffield Theatres of being "intransigent" on the matter. | She said she had raised the pay issue four years ago and did not want to leave her role but accused Sheffield Theatres of being "intransigent" on the matter. |
In a statement, Sheffield Theatres said a review of "the resource for audio description" together with other access families was "already under way". | In a statement, Sheffield Theatres said a review of "the resource for audio description" together with other access families was "already under way". |
It said: "Our team of committed volunteers has delivered audio description for a number of years. | It said: "Our team of committed volunteers has delivered audio description for a number of years. |
"We greatly value and recognise this contribution and as part of our ongoing review are in direct discussion with our volunteers to ensure the right and fair outcome." | "We greatly value and recognise this contribution and as part of our ongoing review are in direct discussion with our volunteers to ensure the right and fair outcome." |
Sonali Rai, broadcast relationships and audio description manager at the Royal National Institute of Blind People, said the role was as valid as any other in the creative industries. | |
"In the UK, we have a thriving audio description service industry who do an excellent job each day and they deserve to be recognised for it," she said. | |
Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. |