Case Study: The Arden Theatre
The Arden Theatre - Philadelphia
Arden Theatre Adopts WatchWord Live for Enhanced Accessibility
The Arden Theatre has become the first venue in the world to implement WatchWord Live, a groundbreaking advancement in theatre accessibility developed by Built For Good in collaboration with specialist software developers Epicyclism and Atomic Media (Atomic’s case study here). WatchWord Live represents a significant technological leap over the previous smart caption glasses, dramatically reducing the time required to process captioning scripts and ensuring faster access to performances for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences.
A New Standard in Accessibility
Previously, the Arden Theatre relied on an older generation of captioning software, but the transition to WatchWord Live has introduced substantial improvements. The system now takes only one-sixth of the time to process captioning scripts compared to its predecessor, cutting down preparation time from an average of 3 days to a few hours. This efficiency translates to considerable cost savings and allows caption files to be ready much earlier in a production run, granting audiences access to performances sooner.
Key Statistics:
394 recorded usages across various productions, including Ladysitting, Lehman Trilogy, Pinocchio, Once on This Island, and POTUS.
186 performances offering the glasses, spanning 130 Mainstage and 56 Children's performances.
46.3% of users were first-time attendees at Arden Theatre.
53.7% of users were existing attendees who adopted the glasses due to worsening hearing.
17 repeat users among 216 unique accounts.
Substantial attributable ticket sales generated through captioned performances.
WatchWord glasses and controller
The Reaction
Feedback from patrons has been overwhelmingly positive, with many stating that the technology has revitalised their theatre experience:
“It changed the whole theatre experience for me. My hearing loss had reached the point where I was about to give up going to the theatre. Now, because of this technology, I can continue doing something I love.” – Natalie D.
“I don’t know what I would’ve done without these. Absolutely elevated the viewing experience to a whole new level and made me feel like I could attend theatre again.” – Anonymous
“The Smart Caption Glasses made all the difference in the world. I could adjust the location and size of the captioning. With the glasses hanging from a lanyard, I didn't worry about dropping them. I was totally delighted with my experience! Every theatre and movie venue should be using this technology!“ – Ellen M.
Funding and Commitment to Accessibility
The Arden Theatre’s commitment to accessibility extends beyond implementing new technology. The theatre actively seeks funding to sustain and expand the service, ensuring that captioning solutions remain available to those who need them most. By pioneering the use of WatchWord Live, the Arden sets a new industry benchmark, reaffirming its dedication to inclusivity in live performance.
With WatchWord Live, the Arden Theatre is not just embracing the future of accessibility—it is leading the way.
Find out how much it costs to provide WatchWord Live closed captions at your theatre
