Erin Hutching stars in the world première of The Promise written by Deafinitely Theatre’s Artistic Director Paula Garfield and Melissa Mostyn. The Promise is a new play also directed by Garfield in the company’s renowned highly visual style combining British Sign Language and Spoken English.
Garfield directs James Boyle, Erin Hutching, Louis Neethling and Anna Seymour. Completing the creative team are Paul Burgess (Set & Costume Design), Holly Ellis (Lighting Design), Marie Zschommler (Sound Design) and Ben Glover (AV Design).
The play highlights how dementia affects those in the deaf community and their families through Spoken English and British Sign Language (BSL). The UK touring production will open on Tuesday 9 April at Birmingham Rep, with previews from 6 April. The company then tours to Northern Stage in Newcastle upon Tyne on 19 April, HOME Manchester on 25 April and conclude its tour at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre from 30 April to 11 May.
You’re appearing in The Promise, what can you tell us about this new play?
The Promise is a brand new play exploring communication, complex family dynamics and the experiences of those affected by dementia and their loved ones. It moves backwards and forwards in time to show the experience of Rita, a highly intelligent, passionate educator and campaigner for Deaf rights, who starts to forget how to do simple things and becomes confused easily. Her estranged son and her family friend struggle to get her the care she needs.
What was it about Paula Garfield and Melissa Mostyn’s script that made you want to be part of this production?
I think this is a really important play as dementia can be a bit of a taboo topic. I haven’t seen many depictions of the experiences of deaf people with dementia, who have added communication barriers and need a completely different assessment to reach a diagnosis. The play makes this topic really engaging and affecting without being depressing, it’s a call to action for society without being preachy about it.
You’re playing Jane, what can you tell us about the character and what do you love about the role?
Jane is a no-nonsense Geordie woman whose parents were good friends with Rita and her husband, so she’s grown up with the family and has been left with the responsibility of caring for Rita because her son Jake isn’t around. I love her because she’s really direct and doesn’t take any nonsense, but she has a very kind heart and a generous nature.
And what do you think will be the biggest challenge?
I’m having fun learning the Newcastle accent! I also play an array of other characters in the piece, which is a bit of a comment on how people with dementia may confuse the people they meet for someone they already know, such as when Rita thinks that the nurse looking after her is Jane.
Why do you think it’s important plays like this shine a light on how people in the deaf community are affected by diseases like dementia?
I think popular culture like theatre, film and TV is how society learn about other people’s experiences. These stories can influence how much we empathise with each other and as a result can lead to real change. People who don’t know anything about a topic may then start to push for political change because of a play or film they have seen.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see The Promise?
It’s a story which many people will relate to in some way, deaf or hearing. Many of us have complex relationships with members of our families or trouble communicating with them, even without someone in the family being deaf or having dementia.
Also, while it’s a serious topic, the play has a lot of humanity and humour, and it’s written to be performed in English and BSL with creative captions and projection, making it an exciting play which is accessible for deaf and hearing audiences.
