Testing out GalaPro at School of Rock in the West End

GalaPro is leading the way in theatre technology by opening up accessibility. The company’s app will help introduce a new group of soon-to-be theatre lovers to some of the best shows around in the UK, US and Canada. Their support system allows theatre-goers to download an app that provides subtitles, dubbing or audio amplification and description without any expensive hardware.

As well as helping audiences enjoy the show, they also created digitised versions of programmes, cast and theatre information as well as making it easy to purchase actual tickets.

Now, they have teamed up with Epson to make theatre trips even easier with glasses that currently show subtitles or a dubbed version of the show, meaning that you could fly to Berlin tomorrow, catch a musical and be able to understand the whole thing, just as an example.

The great thing about these glasses is that rather than have to constantly look down at a tablet and miss the action on stage, everything is now in one place. There is even an extra layer that darkens the top of the glasses to make the subtitles even bolder and easier to read.

Of course, as someone who doesn’t require the extra assistance, it’s hard to focus on the subtitles and the action but it’s certainly the better alternative to previous options.

The downside is that the glasses are a little on the heavy side and not particularly subtle to wear, the group all agreed that they weren’t particularly comfortable. If you need glasses to see the show, the second pair will fit on top, but considering how heavy duty they were for the rest of us, it’s hard to be sure how comfortable it could possibly be for them.

On some occasions the subtitles were out of sync but Mai Yamada, who is head of operations and sales for GalaPro’s US office, explained that it’s something that gets worked out through repetition.

The company is constantly working on and updating their product to make sure that it’s reliable and able to keep up with the show.

Not all theatres currently have the use of this app but the firm’s website features which theatres do, should you want to try it out for yourself.

We had the joy of testing it out at The School of Rock at the New London Theatre, but some of the other shows that use this app (mostly on Broadway) are Come From Away, The Band’s Visit, Dear Evan Hansen, Hamilton and The Prom.

Tal Fox