I recently wrote, produced and performed in a new piece of theatre, directed by the multi-talented, Gemma Fairlie. The new piece starred the wonderful, much in demand Andile Vellem and Marsanne Neethling as onstage, integrated SASL Interpreter.
As a British Council Connect ZA piece, the performance at Artscape in Cape Town, South Africa caused a stir. I had a phone interview with a radio station in Johannesburg, which you can listen to below.
Here is a video of Andile at the R&D.
Andile Vellem in Fake Interpreter scratch performance. from CapeGosh on Vimeo.
More press below –
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” – Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
This quote is at the top of every page of the blog that Sophie set up to document the process they are undertaking to put the production together. This quote ties together perfectly the core motivators behind their collaborative show. The first being the fake interpreter that was used at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service. The second being the necessity for a serious public conversation about the need for good, qualified interpreters. The third being a conversation around who controls language. And lastly, thinking about deaf power, deaf pain and deaf people being able to have these kinds of conversations on their own terms.”
The Times, 21 April 2017 (republished online in Sunday Times)
”I’m interested in integrating sign language artistically. We’re trying to create a cross artform piece that has dance, signing, video editing and storytelling intertwined. It’s a new genre,” she said. ”Hopefully it will help people see this invisible world.”
Review and interview in Weekend Special –
https://weekendspecial.co.za/unmute-fake-interpreter/
Interview with Azania Mosaka on Radio 702
http://ewn.co.za/2017/04/25/fake-sign-language-interpreter-inspires-new-theater-production
We also had an interview on SAFM on the literature show with Nancy Richards.
And finally, read about the development of the piece on the blog.