RNIB Connect

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 another audio described theatre review.
This time we have a musical that is all about the untold story of the rebellious middle child of Emmeline Pankhurst with ‘Sylvia a Musical Revolution’ as the touring production visited the Birmingham Hippodrome with description by Professional Audio Describer Caroline Burn.
About ‘Sylvia’
Sylvia Pankhurst – fearless, flawed, and unforgettable. 
The untold story of the rebellious middle child of Emmeline Pankhurst takes centre stage in this irresistible hip hop, funk and soul musical that moves your feet and fires your spirit. Whilst her mother and sister battled for women’s suffrage, Sylvia ignited a revolution for the forgotten: working women, the impoverished, the silenced. Caught between her family and her beliefs, Sylvia risked it all to bring change to millions.
With an electrifying score by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde, renowned choreographer and storyteller Kate Prince (ZooNation – Message in a Bottle, Some Like it Hip Hop, Into the Hoods, The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party) delivers her Olivier-nominated vision in this theatrical treat that audiences can’t get enough of.
Starring powerhouse talent Beverley Knight, (Sister Act, The Drifters Girl, Memphis the Musical) in a show stopping performance as Emmeline Pankhurst, this is your chance to see her in a career defining turn that won her the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Naomi Katiyo (Hamilton, Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical) stars as Sylvia Pankhurst, a role that brings depth, heart, and fire to the stage.
Direct from London’s Old Vic theatre where it played to sold out houses and instant standing ovations, SYLVIA is more than a musical – it’s a manifesto set to music, a revolution you can dance to, a story that roars and shakes the rafters. 
For more about ‘Sylvia’ including dates and times of performances do visit - https://sylviamusicaluk.com
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Each month RNIB Connect Radio speaks to the Policy and Campaigns Team from RNIB Cymru. This month, Hywel Davies has been finding out about some of the different strands to RNIB’s ‘See Cymru Differently’ project.
To find out more about the RNIB’s campaigns work in Wales and across the country you can email campaigns@rnib.org.uk, call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit - https://www.rnib.org.uk/campaign-with-us/ 
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These days everyone likes to take a selfie of themselves while out and about, making a record of trips and holidays or just letting people know through social media what they are up to.
So how easy might it be for blind and partially sighted people to take that perfect selfie photo of themselves standing outside a great historical landmark or iconic location.
Well VISITFLANDERS have come up with a great solution and have co-created the ‘Selfie for All Tile’ with representatives from visually impaired organisations and experts too. 
The tiles feature integrated footprints for positioning and use Google Maps and NaviLens technology for audio guided orientation. 
RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Anita Rampall from VISITFLANDERS and Leive Veys, a partially sighted volunteer from Licht and Liefde who are an advocacy group who were very much involved in the development of the tiles, to find out more about the project and how the ‘Selfie for All Tiles’ work enabling visually impaired people to take that perfect selfie.
To find out more about the ‘Selfie for All Tiles’ and the various locations they are currently available do visit the following pages of the VISITFLANDERS website - https://www.visitflanders.com/en/travel-information/accessibility/selfie-all 
Image shows a man with a white cane in one hand taking a selfie with a smartphone in the other with the tower of St Rumbold's Cathedral in Mechelen in the background

Adapted from Lemony Snicket’s picture book, ‘The Dark’ by Peut-Être Theatre is a universal and empowering family adventure about facing one’s fear is on at Battersea Arts Centre in London from 27-31 October 2026.
Laszlo is afraid of the dark. The Dark lives in the basement. It doesn’t visit Laszlo in his room. Until one night it does . . .
Merging vibrant physicality with live music to create captivating performances, ‘The Dark’ is accessible for blind and visually impaired children through integrated audio-description and touch tours.
RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Ellie Isherwood and Daphna Attias from Peut-Être Theatre to find out more about ‘The Dark and what visually impaired children and their families will experience when they attend one of the truly accessible performances.
To find out more about ‘The Dark’ at Battersea Arts Centre and the performances from 27 - 31 October 2026 do visit the following pages of the BAC website - https://bac.org.uk/whats-on/the-dark/
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RNIB have been working with the Scottish Queer International Film Festival (SQIFF) to make the festival more accessible for blind and partially sighted attendees.
Amelia spoke with Charlie Little from SQIFF and James Kyle and Conor Joseph from RNIB to learn more.
Find the SQIFF events programme and further details here - SQIFF – Scottish Queer International Film Festival
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