An exciting new multi-sensory sound experience is on its way to the Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria. Ever wondered what elephants hear when they “talk” to each other from kilometres away? Well, composer and technologist Franco Schoeman is about to quell your curiosity.
Schoeman has made that hidden world visible through B1DR (BEWONDER) technology, a cutting edge fusion of visuals, music, and infrasound. Infrasound (acoustic vibrations below 20Hz) is inaudible to the human ear, but can be felt in the body, making it possible for audiences with all degrees of hearing loss to experience music in an entirely new way.
Following an appearance at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, where Schoeman presented his “Talking to Elephants” conservation project, B1DR is set to make its South African stage debut.
The event is called “Beyond Silence”, and promises an unforgettable full-body listening experience that bridges the gap between sound and sensation. Schoeman has drawn inspiration from animal communication and the 2025 Deaf Awareness Month theme to create something that breaks barriers for the hearing-impaired community.
“Beyond Silence” takes place on 8 September at the Fairtree Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria, hosted in support of Whispers Speech and Hearing Centre. Expect an evening where the boundaries between music, science, and art dissolve into something you can see, hear, and feel deep in your bones. Cape Town shows are on the way!
Tickets are available now through Seatme. For more information on B1DR, visit the website.
