Vital Xposure, the disabled-led theatre company known for pushing boundaries in accessibility, has unveiled the findings of its latest research initiative, VX Labs: Creative Captioning.
The project, supported by Arts Council England and delivered in partnership with the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, explores how captioning can evolve from a functional tool into a creative force within theatre-making.
Dr Mandy Precious, who leads the project, said:
“At a time of tight budgets and falling audiences, prioritising access initiatives can feel counter-intuitive. Captions are often viewed as an add-on for a niche audience and are often reductive and limited rather than creative, but we saw their potential for them to do much more. With captioning technology more accessible than ever, we asked: how could they become part of the creative process, enrich storytelling and engage with an even wider audience.”
The Labs, held in Autumn 2024, featured rehearsed readings of Dial 1 for UK by Mohit Mathur, The Pride of Punjab by Ravi Singh Chera, and 10 Nights by Shahid Iqbal Khan.
Each performance integrated bilingual subtitles—Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu—into the storytelling, with creative teams including directors, captioners, translators, and actors working collaboratively.
The research revealed that creative captioning, when embedded from the outset like lighting or sound, can enhance storytelling and deepen audience engagement.
Josh Elliott, Artistic Director of Vital Xposure, said:
“This lab provides concrete evidence for what our community of disabled artists have always known: captioning isn’t just access – it’s art. It should sit alongside light, sound, costume, and set as a creative opportunity for theatre-makers of all stripes.”
The findings also highlighted the importance of cultural sensitivity, intentional translation, and the need to test creative choices with real audiences.
Deepa Shastri, Theatre Relationship Manager at Arts Council England, added:
“We’re proud to support this exciting research led by Vital Xposure, which explores how bilingual creative captioning can make theatre more inclusive—particularly for wider audiences who are often marginalised because of their intersectionality.”
Professor Selina Busby of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama echoed this sentiment:
“Accessibility for theatre buildings, makers and audiences needs to be an absolute priority across our industry. Sadly this is not yet the case and access is often an after thought during the production process. This lab considered how things could be different by placing captioning at the heart of the theatre making and rehearsal process along side other design elements in order more fully integrate captions to both improve accessibility and enhance the whole theatre going experience for all audience members.”
Looking ahead, VX Labs will continue in 2025 with Decolonising Disability, a new initiative in collaboration with Bristol Old Vic.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
