The magic of the Little Mermaid was not lost on anyone at the recent Burdekin Singers and Theatre Company production.
When Billy found out his school teacher, Olivia Licciardello, was playing Ariel in The Little Mermaid, he asked his mum to buy tickets. With his hearing impairment, Billy has difficulty distinguishing between different sounds, and has never been to the theatre before, but he wished to support his teacher and just watch and enjoy the show’s fantastic imaginary and amazing acting.
However, when Ms Licciardello heard that he was coming to the show, she reached out to Dave Luscombe, Burdekin Theatre’s sound technician, to see if he could whip up some magic.
And Dave managed to do more than expected!
Figuring out how to connect the theatre’s sound system to Billy’s cochlear sound processor, Billy was able to enjoy the show, hearing each and every sound with crystal clear clarity. Billy was able to hear every note, every sound, and caught all the magic of the music.
This was groundbreaking for Dave and the Burdekin Theatre, being able to connect to an individual’s sound processor and streamline the productions sound straight to an individual.
This inclusivity is exciting for the Burdekin Theatre, who wish to expand their inclusive shows and share the joy of the theatre with more individuals.
Billy with Olivia Licciardello and Dave Luscombe, and his mum, after the show, The Little Mermaid. Photo supplied
