QUAD Derby Trials WatchWord Smart Glasses for Live Macbeth Broadcast

Audiences at QUAD in Derby are experiencing a breakthrough in accessible theatre with the trial of WatchWord, an innovative subtitling solution for filmed productions. During the Donmar Warehouse’s broadcast of Macbeth, starring David Tennant and Cush Jumbo, WatchWord provides real-time captions via smart glasses, enhancing accessibility without disrupting the cinematic experience.

Funded by Innovate UK and developed by Epicyclism in collaboration with Built For Good Technology Ltd., WatchWord tackles a major challenge in event cinema: the lack of a pre-prepared caption track. Unlike general release films, live and filmed broadcasts don’t come with built-in subtitles, making accessibility more complex. WatchWord solves this by listening to dialogue and synchronising captions in real time, delivering them directly to smart glasses.

“This is an exciting step forward in making live theatre more inclusive,” said Tabitha Allum, spokesperson for Built For Good Technology Ltd. “WatchWord allows us to bridge the accessibility gap in event cinema, ensuring audiences who rely on captions can fully enjoy live performances.”

QUAD is offering ten pairs of smart glasses per screening for Macbeth on Sunday 9th and Thursday 13th of February. Users will receive a complimentary ticket in exchange for providing feedback on their experience. To book, contact us here.

For more details and bookings, visit: QUAD Macbeth event page.