I’m sitting in a pitch-black theatre. I’m slightly anxious, as I cannot see anything nor feel the people sitting next to me. Suddenly, a cacophonous sound of typewriters fills the room. Feet start shuffling. Voices emerge on the stage. Over the course of the show, I will be transported to a fishing boat, to a Malaysian market, and to a rainforest. I will have water thrown on me, and inhale the scent of jasmine. By the end, I’m used to the dark, even enjoying it, and am a bit surprised when the lights turn on to find myself in a small, nondescript room.
By Flickr user curran.kelleher
The theatre is called
Teatro Ciego (Blind Theatre), the play is
La Isla Desierta. Located in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires, this new troupe of blind and seeing actors is among the growing innovative trend of blind voyeurism. The idea is this: spectators will know what it feels like to live in a world without sight, if only temporarily, and therefore be forced to rely on other senses for a more robust experience.
Sensorial Lisbon is based around this concept as well. Located in Portugal, Sensorial Lisbon gives a whole new meaning to “sightseeing” through hosting blindfolded tours. Local visually impaired guides lead you as you touch walls, smell sardines and hear the calls of market women.
So we have theatre and tours—but what about dining in the dark? This notion has been around for almost a decade, first
introduced in Switzerland by a blind pastor who blindfolded his dinner guests just for the fun of it. Since then, dark restaurants with blind waiters have opened in cities such as Paris, Berlin, London, Beijing, Los Angeles and Montréal. I imagine it might get a little messy as you fumble around for your silverware. But benefits such as focusing solely on the food’s taste, not to mention helping out those who are traditionally at the lower end of the economic scale, seem to outweigh the potential mess. And forgive the pun, but doesn't it also sound like the perfect place for a blind date?
If you feel like seeing what else is out there, check out our database of
239 organizations around the world working with the blind. Or close your eyes and take a listen to our
"Born to be BAADS" podcast featuring Ed Gallagher, a blind sailor.
This entry is by Celeste, who works on the Idealist podcasts.
