WHO says people with blindness cannot enjoy the visual art of miming? Not Jacqueline Homer.

While mimers from the Japanese silent comedy duo Sivouplait use body movements and gestures to tell narratives, Ms Homer and a team of volunteers will orally describe scenes to fill the silence for people with blindness and vision-impairment.

It is part of Ms Homer’s Australian-first initiative at the not-for-profit community arts organisation DADAA, which involves taking people with sight disabilities on a special audio tour of the Fremantle Street Arts Festival this long weekend.

People on the tour will receive a headset and receiver to hear live descriptions of what is in front of them, including props and costumes.

“We would, for example, describe how an actor is doing something and set the scene,” Ms Homer, DADAA’s head of production, says.

“If they’re twirling a baton, we’d say that.”

The group has offered verbal commentary at Sculptures by the Sea for four years and recently decided to extend accessibility to other art forms.

• DADAA head of production Jacqueline Homer, Pam Barras, and Tarrabelle and Rusty from Fremantle-based Zap Circus. Tarrabelle and Rusty will perform among mimers, musicians, comedians and street theatre actors at the Fremantle Street Arts Festival this weekend. Photo by Emmie Dowling

“The nature of street theatre makes this project a bit more difficult because performers move around and several things happen at once,” she says.  “So … this is just a trial.”

Pam Barras, 62, has not been to many visual arts and performance events since losing aspects of her sight four decades ago.

“I miss so much of theatre acts now so I just don’t go to many anymore,” she says.

“I think, ‘is it worth me going if I can’t see much?’

“The audio descriptions will fill in the gaps for me and help me catch the action.”

Ms Barras says so much fog now clouds her vision she can only see vague shapes and colours.

Three acts are covered on the free tour: Sivouplait, three-piece Latin band Ole and stand-up comedy act Kiki & Pascal.

Tours are at various times on Sunday and Monday. The festival runs Saturday to Monday (April 4-6).

To book or for more information, call Jacqueline Homer on 0400 111 018.

by EMMIE DOWLING