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.
We stepped into the wild this week with a vibrant telling of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, celebrating the beauty of love in all its forms at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre with description from Professional Audio Describer Carolyn Smith.
About ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ 
Bard veterans and newbies alike will enjoy The Rep’s return to Shakespeare. Starring the hilarious Adam Carver (aka cabaret sensation Fatt Butcher) and set in the heart of Birmingham where Brummie accents punctuate this much-loved comedy.
When a love-struck teenager is forced to marry a man, rather than the woman she loves, she has a few options: certain death, live a lie, move to a nunnery… or flee to a messy, neon party in an enchanted forest!
Beyond the city walls, boundaries blur, music pulsates, and love is celebrated. Inhibitions are unleashed and love potions spill into more re-couplings than an episode of Love Island.
This night on the tiles also features a feel-good soundtrack of pop music and original songs that will have you dancing in your seats: but maybe Sweet Dreams aren’t made of this…? The feisty fairies are locked in their own conflict; the seasons are pulled into climate chaos and the young lovers’ moonlit escape from reality loses its shine.
Directed by The Rep’s Artistic Director, Joe Murphy and Deputy Artistic Director, Madeleine Kludje, step into the wild with this vibrant telling of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, celebrating the beauty of love in all its forms.
For more about access at the Birmingham REP including details of audio described performances do visit - https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/your-visit/accessibility/

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The year is the National Year of Reading. With more on RNIB’s plans and how you can get involved, here’s David Hogg…

UK sight loss charity RNIB has been giving it’s response to some of the announcements, relating to the lives of blind and partially sighted people, contained within the King’s speech.
RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to Rhys Felton, to look at the positives within the speech and what the charity would liked to have heard prioritised.
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Blanche Morrissey is 70 and an avid runner. She recently completed the TCS London marathon and spoke to Amelia about her sight loss journey, love of sport and running tips for other blind and partially sighted people.
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An upcoming fundraiser will see one yoga teacher tackle the Jurassic Coast walk.
Dawn Blezard from Pathway Yoga lives with Stargardt Disease and wants to support the RNIB, after the charity has been there for her since the diagnosis.
She spoke with RNIB Connect Radio's Paulina Kuchorew.
Find out more about Dawn's fundraiser through her social pages, you can find her on Instagram or (9) Facebook

Image shows Dawn doing a yoga pose and laughing. She's outdoors, with a nice stone wall behind her. One leg bent and resting against her thigh, her arms out and a big smile on her face, she's holding the tree pose. She's dressed in hiking clothes with a dark waterproof jacket, solid shoes and navy/grey leggings.