The Leaveners have been working on deaf and hearing drama projects for seven years and this work is expanding and growing in new and exciting ways. The aim of the project, which is called Words, Signs & Vibes (W,S&V) is to integrate deaf and hearing young people through drama, and to improve young peoples skills and confidence.
The project runs a weekly drama club during term time. Please download a leaflet with the Jan - April term dates: 
Winter/Spring 06 Club Dates. New
members are welcome: you can contact
us for details. Remember, the club is open to all young people ages 11-18, whether deaf,
hearing or partially hearing.
The W,S&V drama club is based at the Crescent Theatre in Birmingham. This lovely central venue is accessible and easy to get to: members often meet up and travel to the club together, often enjoy socialising afterwards, going shopping or to the cinema in town.
As well as the weekly drama club, there are also 1 or 2 more intensive week-long projects during some school holidays. Participants have a chance to get more deeply involved with productions, which are often performed to the public. Please visit the upcoming events page to see when the next holiday project is. Also click on 'Past Projects' at the side of this page for some reflections from the week long events that we have run in the past.
The club is run by deaf and hearing co-workers and a team of wonderful volunteers, supported by qualified BSL interpreters. The project has funded in the past by a major grant of £105,000 from BBC Children in Need as well as funding from Friends of The Leaveners. Words, Signs & Vibes is currently not funded by Children in Need, but we hope to regain funding from them in the future.
Words Signs & Vibes has proved to be a popular project, with lots of coverage of the club in the local media and publications for deaf people. Channel 4's Ideas Factory has an article about WS&V that you can read here.
