Theatre subtitle software

Theatre Subtitle Software for Live Performance

Theatre subtitle software is different from video subtitle editing. For a live show, the useful question is whether the workflow can follow a script, adapt during rehearsal, and deliver text during performance with an operator and fallback plan.

Try the workflow Discuss a production

Where theatre subtitle software fits

- Scripted theatre, touring productions, festivals, and mixed-language audiences.
- Teams that need rehearsal edits, operator cueing, and fallback planning.
- Venues that want projection subtitles, audience-phone subtitles, or both.
- Productions where translations need human review before show time.

Where this may not fit

- Video subtitle editing for recorded media.
- Unscripted events where speech-to-text captioning is the primary need.
- Productions where phones cannot be used and projection is already fully solved.

Vocabulary

The label matters less than the live workflow

People may search for subtitles, captions, surtitles, or supertitles. In live theatre, those words often overlap. The operational need matters more than the label: prepare text from a script, cue it live, and deliver it to the audience in the right place.

SurtitleLive workflow

1Import a Word script and structure dialogue, roles, and stage directions.
2Prepare subtitle lines and reviewed translations before rehearsal.
3Use simulation to test timing, readability, and operator handoff.
4Deploy to projection screens and audience mobile viewers through one live workflow.
5Use the Operator Cockpit to cue, jump, and recover during the show.

Related planning

Read before choosing a workflow

Browse the planning library

Match theatre subtitle software to the workflow

Use this planning article when the search term is broad and the actual need may be translation, access, projection, or mobile delivery.

Pilot or full rollout?

Plan whether to start with one production, one venue, or a wider subtitle program.

Projection vs mobile delivery

Compare projected text, audience-phone viewing, and mixed delivery by venue and audience need.

Common questions

Is theatre subtitle software the same as video subtitle software?

No. Video subtitle software usually prepares timed captions for recorded media. Theatre subtitle software needs live cueing, rehearsal edits, operator recovery, projection or audience-device delivery, and a plan for show-time changes.

Can slide-based workflows still work for theatre subtitles?

Yes. Slide-based workflows can fit simple productions with stable text and limited delivery needs. A dedicated live subtitle workflow becomes more useful when edits, multilingual delivery, mobile access, or recovery needs increase.

Does SurtitleLive require audience members to install an app?

No. Audience members can enter through a viewer link or QR code in a mobile browser, then choose an enabled language for the live subtitle screen.