In 2003, Half Moon launched a programme of fully integrated bilingual shows for young children in English and British Sign Language. Six plays were produced which uniquely combined the two languages, placing both English (a verbal language) and British Sign Language (a visual language) on an equal status. The dialogue between the actors on stage – some Deaf, some hearing – was an exchange like any conversation – the difference lay in the need to ensure that the audience – some Deaf, some hearing – could understand or engage with the full conversation taking place. The result was a fully inclusive experience for Deaf and hearing audiences alike.
For a full description of this process and an example of a script presented in this format, see downloads on this page.
This was the second time in the company’s history that bi-lingualism was explored, the first was in the 1980s/1990s when plays were presented in English and Sylheti-Bengali.
Find out about Sylheti-Bengali and English bilingual theatre
Chris Elwell has been the Director of Half Moon Theatre on White Horse Road since 1997. He talks about the impetus for and aesthetic of creating bilingual work in British Sign Language and English.
Anna-Maria Nabirye is an actor and workshop facilitator. She talks about the bilingual production Igloo Hullabaloo which was her first professional acting role. She talks about the importance of British Sign Language in the UK and how she went on to learn BSL herself. Interviewed by Rio Puffett.
Daryl Beeton talks about performing in When Snow Falls and then directing a re-written version of the play some years later with integrated British Sign Language. He recalls the effect of the integrated BSL upon one young audience member in particular. Interviewed by Toni Tsaera.
Chris Elwell talks about My Friend Snow, a bi-lingual English/British Sign Language production for 2-7 year olds. Interviewed by Kavana Joyett.
Have you got a memory you’d like to share? Or perhaps you have a programme or poster from one of our shows that we're currently missing? Then we want to hear from you! The website is a living archive and we will continue to add information as it comes to light.
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