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Scarborough Village Theatre (SVT)
By Better Hearing Solutions
It all began with this simple email message: “We are in the process of applying for a grant for a hearing assist system for our theatre. Would it be possible for you to visit us and provide more information as to the requirements, installation and cost?” Following a site visit, we submitted our proposal for a Hearing Loop System.
Seven months later, another email: “I am pleased to report that we received the (Ontario Trillium Foundation) grant and will be proceeding with the installation.” Four months later, the week long installation occurred during a theatre break.
What did it take to provide live theatre hearing assistance for SVT patrons? 
The attached “photo” taken from our Facebook posting pictorially describes the work performed.
Theatre seating wraps around three sides of the stage. The six rows of seats, mounted on reinforced concrete, quickly rise up from the stage floor in 14” steps setting the back row approximately six feet above the stage floor. The seating configuration led to various design challenges that needed to be considered to ensure that the resultant hearing loop installation would meet IEC60118:4 standard for sound quality performance. Hearing loop wires were run along every row of seats to achieve the IEC performance standard and provide a stellar user experience.
No matter how well a hearing loop system is designed (and installed), input sound to the system remains critical. Microphone quality and microphone proximity to the desired sound source precedes the effectiveness of any audio system. A hearing loop, or any assistive listening system, is no exception.
SVT had no microphones in place to pick up the actors’ voices. Ideally, every actor would wear a microphone. At SVT, the ideal was not practical. Instead, four microphones were strategically hung from the infrastructure above the perimeter of the stage, connected to the hearing loop drivers and on through the hearing loop for the enjoyment of the theatre patrons.
As an added bonus, live testing during a final rehearsal delivered listener results that piqued the interest of personnel from other theatre companies that were present.
We’re thankful that pay off from this strategic installation was palpable: “I went to see Mamma Mia at the Scarborough Theatre yesterday and wanted to let you know that the Loop was fantastic. I could hear everything so clearly. It felt wonderful. I loved music and dancing before I became deaf and losing that was one of my greatest losses. So to be able to hear, feel and just enjoy this production was incredible. The production itself was awesome, so much talent from each member of this show and it was obvious that they loved what they were doing. The Loop helped to make my Mother’s Day a very special day.” –Cathy, SVT patron
“Theatre Innovation – A New Hearing Loop System
Scarborough Players announced the launch of a new Hearing Loop System at the Scarborough Village Theatre. This will be the only theatre in Toronto with this type of hearing assist system. The new hearing system will be officially launched during opening night of Noises Off!, Scarborough Players first comedy of the 60th season. It opens on October 5, 2018.”, Beach Metro Community News
Each hearing loop project presents unique challenges; another theatre will have different design requirements that will need to be addressed in an entirely different way. Every installation increases our experience and provides us with new knowledge for tackling our next venture.
Better Hearing Solutions has installed temporary and permanent assistive listening and window intercom systems in venues covering a wide variety of applications across Canada since the mid 1980’s. Advocacy and education go hand in hand with our work in the field as we bring a better hearing experience to Canadians.