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Performance Interpreting

For Interpreters

Join the team shaping Deaf access at the UK and Ireland's biggest live events.

PI team pitchside at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium

Working with PI

Live events interpreting is its own specialism

Interpreting at a festival or a Premier League match is a different discipline from a boardroom or a medical setting. The vocabulary, the pace, the physical environment, the team dynamics - all of it demands skills you won’t pick up in a standard RSLI/CSW pathway.

Performance Interpreting has built a team of interpreters who thrive in this environment. If you’re curious about live events work - or already doing it and want to work with a team that takes it seriously - we’d like to hear from you.

What we look for

Skills and standards

All interpreters working with PI must hold current NRCPD registration. Beyond that, we look for people who are comfortable in high-energy environments and work well as part of a team under production constraints.

NRCPD registered

Current registration required for all PI interpreters.

Live event experience

Prior experience at concerts, festivals, sport, or theatre is highly valued.

Team player

Large events run with interpreter teams and rotation schedules.

Adaptable under pressure

Live events don’t always go to plan. We need calm under changing conditions.

BSL interpreter signing at a festival with stage behind

I attended the two day festival training weekend and was absolutely blown away by how much I came away with! They created a really supportive and safe space.

PI Academy participants gathered together after a training weekend

Training & Development

The PI Academy

Performance Interpreting’s dedicated training platform - built specifically for interpreters who want to specialise in live events. Structured courses, hands-on mentoring and ongoing CPD you won’t find anywhere else.

Live event vocabulary for music, sport, comedy and entertainment

Team interpreting at scale - rotations, handovers, long events

Production coordination - sight-lines, lighting, stage comms

Legal and ethical framework - Equality Act, reasonable adjustments

Explore courses at the PI Academy

The training offered by Performance Interpreting is invaluable. The trainers made the whole programme so welcoming. I enjoyed pushing through the boundaries of my comfort zone.

Start here

Volunteer your way in

Volunteering with Performance Interpreting gives you a real feel for live-access environments before you commit to training. You’ll support interpreter teams on site, help with logistics, and see first-hand how events run. Open to Deaf volunteers fluent in BSL, and hearing volunteers at Level 6 or above.

Welcome Deaf attendees and support coordinators

Help with set-up - banners, equipment, access areas

Free entry to events and festivals

Selected volunteers may be invited to shadow interpreters

“Working with Performance Interpreting has been such a supportive journey. Beginning as a volunteer, I was able to observe first-hand the passion and dedication of the team.”

Register your interest
PI volunteers at a festival
PI interpreter signing in front of festival main stage crowd at dusk

Get in Touch

Interested in working with PI?

If you hold NRCPD registration and are interested in live events interpreting work, get in touch. Tell us about your experience, the types of events you’ve worked at (or would like to) and any specialist vocabulary areas.

We’re always building our pool of interpreters ahead of our busiest seasons - festival summer and the autumn arena circuit. The earlier you’re in touch, the better.

Get in touch
Performance Interpreting

Team kit

Extended PI gear

Every interpreter receives a complimentary PI t-shirt for work. Beyond that, our kit portal offers an extended range of branded gear - hoodies, jackets, hats and more - for those who want to add to their collection. Delivered direct to your door.

Browse kit

The PI Events App - coming soon

A free toolkit for Deaf audiences

Find events, order at the bar, know your rights. Take a look at what's coming - free on iOS and Android once App Store review is complete.

Read more