Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers Amanda Rishworth has launched a new app that will enable blind and vision impaired people to enjoy live theatre. The GoTheatrical! audio description mobile app, developed by award-wining The Captioning Studio, provides high-quality audio descriptions on mobile devices.

"People with disability have the right to the same opportunities as other Australians," Ms Rishworth said, congratulating the Australian company for developing the new technology.

"This new app will allow users to access the audio description delivered during gaps in the dialogue, and visualise the action taking place from detailed description of costumes, body language, set design, and scene locations."

The politician added that GoTheatrical! replaces old portable FM systems, which are "frustrating for theatre-goers as users experienced interference from radio stations and technical failures such as batteries dying."

GoTheatrical! uses Wi-Fi and Voice Over IP, allowing it to provide high quality audio signal for vision-impaired theatre-goers.

The Captioning Studio has also developed an app for the hearing impaired in 2012. The app has been made available from the App Store and GooglePlay, and enables patrons to access captions from their mobile phones and tablets.

Ms Rishworth said that the Federal Government committed $500,000 to improve access to cinemas for deaf, blind, or visually or hearing impaired people. It aims to have captions and audio descriptions available in 242 screens by the end of 2014.

"Through our National Disability Strategy, which includes $11 million in community initiatives, we are delivering a range of accessibility measures to make it easier for people with disability, their carers, and families to participate in community life, including going to the cinema, attending conferences, using public libraries, and accessing public buildings," she said in a statement.

The GoTheatrical! audio description app is available for download through The App Store and GooglePlay.