University news

The UK’s first theatre group dedicated to deaf children and young people opens its doors to the public at the University of Glasgow.

Deaf Youth Theatre (DYT), which is organised and managed by the Solar Bear Theatre Company, will perform ‘Gone’ - on Friday (31 July) and Saturday (1 August) at the University’s Gilmorehill G12 theatre.

The play, written, produced and acted by youngsters who all have impaired hearing, is inspired by William Golding’s ‘Lord of the Flies’ and is set within the context of a reality television show. 

DYT’s members are all aged between 11 and 23-years-old and come from across Scotland. A number travel to rehearsals every week from Donaldsons School for the Deaf in Edinburgh.

A variety of communication methods are used by the group including Sign Language, Sign Supported English and lip reading.
The DYT project was officially launched in January last year after organisers realised how excluded deaf youngsters are from the world of theatre and performing arts. 

Gillian Garrity, General Manager of Solar Bear Ltd, explained: “Like most children, youngsters with impaired hearing love acting and drama. But unfortunately many are excluded from theatre because of their hearing loss or because they have poor verbal communication skills. We’ve seen some young people develop unbelievable confidence through our theatre group.
Deborah Andrews, Artistic Director of DYT, described producing Gone as “great fun” adding that the team’s energy was “endless”. “The youngsters were involved in all aspects of the production - from script writing and acting to managing lighting and sound. They designed the set and made or chose all the props too.

"The aim of the play is to try to tell the story through movement and the interaction between the characters and the set so both hearing and deaf audiences can follow the plot. We’ve tried to make it as visual as possible so there’s not too much spoken language or sign involved," she said. 

Solar Bear's patron Kate Dickie, the Scottish actress who starred in Red Road, added: "I've been so impressed with the unique and passionate work done by DYT. I can't wait to see Gone. DYT is one of a kind and the drama created by the members brings something truly new to Scottish theatre. Young, old, deaf or hearing - I’d urge everyone to go and experience this powerful, funny and exciting new work."

According to Ms Garrity, the DYT project is now in need of further funding to expand its outreach and scope. More money is needed to allow organisers to run apprenticeships and training workshops with the aim of inspiring deaf children to consider acting as a full-time job.

Ms Garrity continued: “While some children come along just to have a good time or to develop their communication and social skills, others join us because they really want to be actors. The youngsters really want to work in theatre professionally. To cater for these children we really want to have a couple of groups running."
 
For more media information please contact Eleanor Cowie, Media Relations Officer at The University of Glasgow, on Telephone: 0141 330 3683 or email: e.cowie@admin.gla.ac.uk

Event Details:
Fri 31 July & Sat 1 August at 7.30pm - Please note tickets for Friday evening have now sold out. Tickets £3 available from: Gilmorehill G12 Box Office on 0141 330 5522 or bookings@gilmorehillg12.co.uk

Notes to Editors:
Solar Bear Ltd is an award-winning company founded in 2002 with the aim of producing exciting, pioneering theatre. As well as professional theatre productions, Solar Bear has an excellent reputation for the innovative creative learning projects that it runs across Scotland.

Funding for DYT was secured by Solar Bear Theatre Company Ltd in August 2007 and the group was launched in January 2008. It is the first dedicated Deaf Youth Theatre in the UK. The project was created to help open up the world of theatre to deaf young people. Members range from 11-23 years old, come from all across Scotland and use various communication methods including BSL, SSE and spoken English.

For further information on Solar Bear Ltd please contact: Gillian Garrity, General Manager of Solar Bear Ltd, gillian@solarbear.org.uk or www.solarbear.org.uk

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First published: 27 July 2009