Deafblind actor receives apology after captioning device user was accused of recording theatre show

A deafblind actor and activist was accused of recording a performance of Hadestown, when she was actually using a captioning device to access the Broadway musical.

Samantha Coleman was watching the production at the Walter Kerr Theater from the front row on Wednesday when an actress called her out “not once but twice at least” from the stage.

In an emotional video posted to Instagram, Samantha said: “She thought my captioning device was a recording device. I’m sure she wasn’t the only person on the stage that may have thought that.

“She was the only person, however, to call me out for the least, because I don’t think this is inherently her malice.

“I think it’s a misunderstanding, but we still need to talk about it.”

The activist went on to add that there is a “systemic issue” in the theatre industry and Broadway around accessibility and inclusion.

“Some of that has been changed by the creation of technology like captioning devices so that people can be able to experience a show that they may not have been able to before.

“To kind of be ostracised and publicly ridiculed really hurts. It was super embarrassing.

“The people who need to use these devices should feel comfortable and confident in seeing a Broadway show, and not be met with shame and embarrassment and anxiety,” she said.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CjpD0N2jghB/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

In a statement issued to The Limping Chicken, a spokesperson for Hadestown said the production and theatre owner Jujamcyn Theatres “have a commitment to accessibility in all forms”.

They said: “The incident [on Wednesday] is a reminder that this is an ongoing process needing constant revisiting and renewal.

“Providing access is also about educating everyone in the theater about how we can be more supportive. We are reviewing our policies and internal protocols to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

“The production connected directly with Samantha earlier today [Thursday] to convey their apologies and thank her for bringing this to their attention so that it can be addressed.”

Samantha has also been invited back to the theatre to see Hadestown again as a guest of the production.

Photo: @samicat/Instagram.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.