RNIB Conversations

Now for a roundup of accessible arts events as RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey catches up with Jess Beal from VocalEyes, the national audio description charity providing access to the arts for blind and partially sighted people to share some of the accessible events that are featured in their regular email newsletter.
Audio described shows and events included:
The Play That Goes Wrong - Sunday 22 March, 3pm, touch tour 1.45pm, The Duchesss Theatre, Aldwych, London

Evening All Afternoon - Saturday 28 March, 2.30pm,, Donmar Warehouse, London
Jersey Boys - Tuesday 7 April, 7.3pm, touch tour 6pm, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
Tuesday 21 April, 7.30pm, touch tour 6pm, Curve Theatre, Leicester

Blood Brothers - Wednesday 15 April, 7.30pm, Bournemouth Pavilion
The Woman in Black - Wednesday 15 April, 2.30pm, touch tour 1.30pm, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
Priscilla Queen of the Desert - Saturday 25 April, 2.30pm Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
To find out more about these and other up-coming described arts events as well as details on how to sign up to the regular VocalEyes What’s On email newsletter do visit - https://vocaleyes.co.uk
(Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font)

Phil Harrison is registered blind and at the end of April will run his first ever marathon as he takes on the 2026 London Marathon with his guide runner for Team RNIB. 
Phil spoke to RNIB Connect Radio about this exciting challenge alongside film-maker Reuben Armstrong, who has created an amazing documentary 'An Exercise in Perspective' about Phil's journey.
Watch the documentary and support Phil here: Reuben & Co
Image shows a fisheye camera angle points back at Phil as he runs. He is an older white man wearing dark sunglasses. His surrounding environment is a blur of motion. His bright orange vest reads ‘blind runner’ in bold capitals, the only part of the image coloured in with a scruffy marker pen. The whole image is treated with a punk-inspired, black and white photocopy texture.

On Guide Dog Blogs this week, Hubert chats to Gary to start a series about his guide dogs. Firstly, we hear about Gibson, Gary's first dog, and the special bond they had together.

Charity VICTA UK is supporting young people is working to develop some exciting accessible materials for the Canal Museum in London. 
They recently held workshops around it in Scotland and Paulina caught up with one of the participants, Emmy Anstee, to learn more.
Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font.

For the RNIB Out of Sight campaign and the Life On Pause petition RNIB Ambassador, content creator and Radio Broadcaster Claire Sisk plus Celebrity Chef, Presenter and Podcaster Briony May Williams came together to film a baking session at PaperMill Studios in London to support the campaign and to encourage people to sign the petition which is all about the importance of Vision Rehabilitation Services ensuring blind and partially sighted people get the support they need when they need it.
Claire and Briony began by telling RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey about what they baked together for the video shoot, then to Claire explaining how important Vision Rehabilitation services were for her when she started to lose her sight, plus highlighting some of the gadgets Claire uses when baking and cooking and finally why the Out of Sight campaign and the Life on Pause petition is so important to ensure blind and partially sighted people get the right support they need when they need it.
To find out more about the RNIB Out of Sight campaign and to sign the Life on Pause petition do visit - https://www.rnib.org.uk/campaign-with-us/support-a-campaign/out-of-sight/