- January 19, 2022
- Theatre in Paris exclusives
- Angela Spidahl
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Blog last updated on 22 Jan 2026.
Smart devices in theatres - what are they, and how are they shaping the future of live performance?
Theatre has always mirrored society, so it should be no surprise that technology is now playing a starring role in making live performances more accessible, inclusive, and immersive than ever before. Read on and learn how these innovations are transforming how audiences experience theatre.
Where does the idea to put technology in live theatres originate?
We understand that finding accessible events in Paris can be difficult if you’re affected by the language barrier or have special needs. For this reason, we have put in place revolutionary solutions with Panthea to make theatre accessible to foreign-language speakers, hard-of-hearing individuals, low vision individuals, the deaf community, and the blind community.
In our partnering theatres we have made devices like LED screens, Surtitling Glasses, tablets, smartphones, and audio headsets available to broadcast surtitles in English or French, Audio Description, adapted French surtitles, and video adaptation in sign language. These accessibility devices will not only bring a greater audience to the theatre but will bring Parisian performances to those who did not have access to them in the past!
If you’re looking to learn more about the accessibility devices, read the details below. Read until the end to find ideas for shows you can attend with smart devices!
What are smart glasses?
Popularised in 2013 by many companies including Google with their own Google Glass product, smart glasses have been around for more than a decade. After the world premiere of our multilingual surtitling glasses in the theatres at the 2015 Avignon Festival, Theatre in Paris and Panthea became pioneers in a new market by developing innovative surtitling devices in an Augmented Reality environment.
How do surtitling glasses work?
Surtitling glasses, are smart glasses with a new technology developed by Panthea that enables surtitles to be shown in an individual spectator’s view, within the glasses, during a live performance.
In addition to the surtitles, these AR glasses can be connected to a headset for Audio Description as well as display a video with sign language. These features not only make performances accessible to a wider audience but also allow for audience members to have a personalised experience in a way that suits them best.
What are surtitles?
What are surtitles you ask? Is it just a typo from the word subtitles? As described by Panthea, the European leader of surtitling solutions for performing arts, surtitling is the art of displaying translations during a theatre or opera performance, in synchronization with the actors, performers, and/or singers. These translations can be projected onto a screen above the stage during a performance or, thanks to Panthea, they can be provided on surtitling glasses and smart devices such as a tablet or smartphone.
What is the difference between surtitles and subtitles?
The difference between surtitles and subtitles, although minimal, is very important. Surtitles are similar to subtitles in the fact that they aid in the translation of dialogue, but the biggest difference between the two is that surtitles are typically projected or ran during live performances while subtitles are used in prerecorded content such as film or video.
In the world of film and video, there is also an important distinction between subtitles and captions. Subtitles are designed to translate a foreign language for those who do not speak the language, while captions (also called closed captions) provide a service to audience members who cannot hear the audio track.
What is the difference between Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) Glasses?
The most notable difference between AR and VR devices is that AR alters a real-world setting, while VR uses a fabricated virtual setting. Diving further, All About Vision describes the difference as the following: “While AR glasses overlay information on your actual view of the world, VR simulates an entirely different reality.”
With Theatre in Paris and Panthea, AR glasses have found a new home in theatres. With our surtitling glasses, one can choose to attend a live event with the dialogue translated in real-time through text or sign language videos.
How do tablets and smartphones also help with accessibility in theatres?
Other than surtitling glasses, Theatre in Paris and Panthea provide other supports such as tablets, smartphones, and headsets. Depending on what the theatre has available, those who would like to have their performance accompanied by a translation in sign language may ask for access to our tablets and those who would like to have their performance accompanied by Audio Description may ask for access to our smartphones and headsets.
Why are surtitles and smart devices important?
Surtitles, surtitling glasses, and other accessibility devices make live performances more accessible to a wider audience, notably to foreign-language speakers, hard-of-hearing individuals, low vision individuals, the deaf community, and the blind community.
By making theatre accessible to all, the performance industry can share culture with audiences who previously had no opportunity to experience it, and continuously strive to build an inclusive community. In addition, it attracts not only these audiences but also all those who accompany them such as family, friends, and others who help fill theatre halls.
Where can I see a show with surtitling glasses?
In 2024, Panthea and the Comédie-Française forged a groundbreaking partnership, which saw the legendary playhouse blend its esteemed heritage with an embrace of modernity. Through this collaboration, the Comédie-Française now offers free smart surtitling glasses for a number of shows, allowing English-speaking, deaf, and hard-of-hearing spectators to fully immerse themselves in every spectacular performance.
Playhouses in Paris with Smart Glasses:
Which theatres in Paris offer surtitles?
Theatre is also becoming more accessible through the use of projected surtitles in playhouses. Surtitles are usually projected above or to the sides of the stage, allowing audiences to follow the story even if they don't understand the language.
Playhouses in Paris with Surtitled Shows:
- Théâtre de la Huchette
- Théâtre Le Ranelagh
- Opéra Bastille
- Palais Garnier
- Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
- Théâtre du Lido
- Théâtre Silvia Monfort
- Théâtre Mogador
Some of Our Most Popular Surtitled Shows:
Are there any shows in Paris that are 100% in English?
Yes! Theatre in Paris also offers a number of shows that are 100% in English, sometimes even with French surtitles! These include:
- Oh My God She’s Parisian
- A must-see stand-up comedy show by Julie Collas, who hilariously unpacks what it really means to be a true Parisian. With a mix of improvisation, songs, mimes, and eye-opening stories, she offers an authentic and comedic take on Parisian life—far from the clichés of Emily in Paris. Already enjoyed by 25,000 spectators, this high-energy performance is the perfect way to experience Parisian humour firsthand. Buckle up for a wild ride through the quirks and realities of Paris, guided by its sharpest observer!
- Genre: Stand-up Comedy
- Language: In English
- Dates: All year round
- Click here for tickets!
- How to Become A Parisian in One Hour
- Paris’ very own hilarious comic, Olivier Giraud, teaches you how to become a true Parisian: for better or worse! First order of business? Leave the striped shirts, berets, and baguettes behind and start working on your scowl! You’ll find out how the French navigate everyday situations, from riding the metro (wipe that smile off your face and don’t give up your seat for anyone) to ordering at a restaurant (be as rude as the waiter!). Giraud's witty, scathing show will leave tourists and locals alike howling with laughter, as he mocks the city he loves.
- Genre: Stand-up Comedy
- Language: In English
- Dates: All year round
- Click here for tickets!
- Une maison de poupée (A Doll's House)
- In this visually stunning production, Yngvild Aspeli captures the powerful drama of Nora’s emancipation, a wife trapped in a symbolically perfect marriage. The life-sized puppets, manipulated in full view, become powerful metaphors for a society built on illusion, where appearances and reality intertwine. The scenography, with its haunting, almost "haunted house"-like aesthetic, heightens the silent oppression of the household. This production blends multiple art forms: puppetry merges with dance, music, a choir, and video to create unsettling and immersive scenes.
- Genre: Theatre
- Language: In English with French surtitles
- Dates: 19 – 29 March 2026
- Click here for tickets!
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