People who cannot hear often encounter barriers in theatre. Researchers at Leipzig University spent a year and a half investigating how deaf and hard-of-hearing people experience the theatre. Their conclusion: far more is missing than just an interpreter.
The project “Cultural Participation – Audience Development by and for People with Disabilities” was led by the Institute of Cultural Studies at Leipzig University. Cultural researcher Dr. Uta Karstein and her team conducted a nationwide online survey of deaf and hard-of-hearing people on their leisure activities and cultural interests. They also carried out 14 interviews with theatre professionals and held a group discussion with visitors to an inclusive performance in Leipzig.
Cultural participation as a right
Cultural participation is a human right, enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Leipzig study highlights the gap that still exists between this principle and everyday practice in theatre. It shows that inclusion requires not only individual measures, but systemic changes across the cultural sector.
In December 2025, the team brought together deaf and hearing theatre professionals in a workshop to experiment with new artistic formats. The project’s results have been published on a blog and an Instagram channel. The study was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.
