Shipwrecked!
Words, Signs and Vibes project, based on themes from 'The Tempest'
4-8, 11-15 August 2003
report by Juliet Parsons
I was not directly involved with this project, and arrived at the performance on Friday 15th August as ready and willing for surprise as anyone. I was certainly not disappointed in this respect. The performance was of an outstanding artistic quality, something that I would quite happily have bought theatre tickets to see.
The participants had worked for 10 days over the summer holidays looking at themes from Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' and then exploring ways of presenting these themes dramatically. The performance utilised the grounds of Northfield Meeting House, as well as the hall, which was a very novel experience. The acting was silent: masks were used for most characters, the narrative being delivered by two story tellers, one using speech and the other sign language.
Since I was selling Leaveners merchandise at the end of the show, I had a good opportunity to talk to people from the audience about their experience. Without exception, people were simultaneously impressed by the standard of the performance and the aim of the Words, Signs and Vibes project, which is to integrate deaf and hearing young people through drama. I was certainly impressed myself!
