Deafinitely Theatre and Birmingham Stage Company today announce the world première Horrible Histories – Dreadful Deaf – Deafinitely not for the faint-hearted!. The Birmingham Stage Company have produced Horrible Histories live on stage across the UK and throughout the world since 2005 and have now teamed up with Deafinitely Theatre to create the first dedicated production for deaf children and their families.
Artistic Director of Deafinitely Theatre, Paula Garfield, directs, re-uniting her creative team from Deafinitely’s sell-out production of Sarah Kane’s 4.48 Psychosis in 2018.
Dreadful Deaf has a special school’s performance at Heathlands School in St Albans on 24 May before opening at Bristol Old Vic Theatre on Monday 29 May. The show then tours to York Theatre Royal and The North Wall in Oxford before completing its run at Derby Theatre on Saturday 23 June. Further dates and casting will be announced soon.
We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is deaf dead!
So it’s time to prepare yourselves for Horrible Histories live on stage as it delves into the dreadful, dangerous and deluded stories of the deaf! From groovy Greeks to gorgeous Georgians, ruthless Romans to vile Victorians, come with us into this incredible world to discover the extraordinary people and amazing stories you simply won’t believe!
Deaf or hearing, this bilingual production – in spoken English and British Sign Language – is a truly frightful treat for all the family!
Director, Paula Garfield said today, “A few years ago I watched my deaf children reading and enjoying Horrible Histories and I was struck by the thought that it would be wonderful for them to have a ‘Deaf Horrible Histories’, showcasing the stories, culture and communities of deaf people throughout history. I also wanted to ensure that deaf children today, whether signing or non-signing, can understand the history of their community and feel a sense of belonging and legacy. Horrible Histories is a fun, exciting way to learn and our bilingual production is designed for all to enjoy. I am delighted to be collaborating with Birmingham Stage Company to create this world-first production: Horrible Histories – Dreadful Deaf!”
