Dutch National Theater testing smart glasses for real-time subtitles in 223 languages

The Dutch National Theater announced a new technology designed to improve accessibility for theatergoers who are non-Dutch speakers or have hearing impairments. The theater plans to introduce smart glasses that display real-time subtitles during performances in 223 languages.

The technology, called LiveText, converts actors’ live spoken or sung words into text using artificial intelligence. Each actor’s microphone sends audio to software that immediately transcribes and, if needed, translates the speech. The subtitles are then streamed directly to the smart glasses worn by audience members.

The National Theater said it will begin offering the smart glasses free of charge this fall at its venues in The Hague and during touring performances. The system will be officially introduced at the Holland Festival at the end of June.

Unlike existing theater subtitle systems, which rely on pre-entered scripts, LiveText works dynamically in real time. The text appears on the glasses at the same visual distance as the actors on stage, aiming to provide a natural viewing experience. Different colors will indicate which actor is speaking.

The theater has worked for years to increase accessibility for people with disabilities and developed this project with support from Cultuurloket DigitALL. The glasses are still undergoing testing and refinement in collaboration with target user groups.