We’re doing pioneering work with a local consultant to help make performances at Salisbury Playhouse more accessible.

Headphones will be crucial for our upcoming new production of Romeo and Juliet, immersing audiences in Shakespeare’s dialogue and a unique soundscape. In March we held a workshop to understand how we can support people with hearing aids to enjoy the full production.

According to RNID, hearing loss affects 1 in 3 adults in the UK. But hearing needs are hugely varied, meaning there’s no single solution for live performances.

Local Hearing Accessibility Consultant Linda Baker is already working with our technical team to develop the services we offer. For Romeo and Juliet, we invited four other hearing aid users to test out the different listening methods available. Participants gave us direct feedback to help shape our approach.

We’re proud to provide a variety of choices for this upcoming production. These include larger over-ear headphones to encompass behind-the-ear aids, direct input into wired headphones, or induction loop support. There’ll be time to test these before the show begins, so that audiences can get the experience that’s right for them.

We’re highlighting the importance of sound for the production and the different options available on the Wiltshire Creative website. We’ll also be including information in a pre-show email to ticket holders.

Headphone suppliers Silent Disco King said: “This performance is laying the groundwork for a big change in theatre in both the use of headphones to create an immersive experience as well as inclusivity for those with a loss of hearing.”

There are considerations for future performances, too. Like many other theatre spaces, we offer a loop system, but we’ve discovered that these are not always the best solution for those who also rely on an element of lip reading. We’re working on ways to make this easier, including close proximity seating.

The community we worked with were thrilled to offer their input and help shape the audience experience, and we were excited to give them ownership of the conversation. We can’t wait to share more news about future developments as we continue to work with Linda and others to help make the arts more accessible for all.

Romeo and Juliet will run from 24 May – 7 June at Salisbury Playhouse as the centrepiece of Salisbury International Festival 2026. This show is proudly sponsored by Wilsons Solicitors.