Melbourne Fringe Festival, 2016, Arts House.
Green Room Awards Nomination for Best Performer in Independent Theatre – Anna Seymour
With a script from renowned Australian playwright Daniel Keene, Deafferent Theatre shares the stories of those who are usually voiceless: survivors of domestic violence, and the deaf community. Deafferent Theatre’s ‘Black is the Colour’, premiered at the Melbourne Fringe Festival in the Fringe Hub Meeting Room in 2016. Working with Deaf actors and consultants, Keene’s visual metaphors are transformed into an accessible performance performed in Australian Sign Language (Auslan) with English captions. Deafferent Theatre embraces the Deaf/hard of hearing and arts community with a culture of inclusivity and diversity.
Can one event lead to the disintegration of a long-standing friendship? Catherine left her husband, but not soon enough for Irene. ‘Black is the Colour’ explores the way love and guilt manifests themselves inside human relationships.
Explore the intricacies of friendship in this visually striking show. The skilful touch of a deaf creative team weaves visual language together with creative captioning. Delve into a relationship that lays broken, and learn how the ones closest to you can hurt you the most.
Actors Hilary Fisher and Anna Seymour
Creative Producer Jessica Moody
Auslan Master Sherrie Beaver
Production Manager and Creative Producer Ilana Charnelle Gelbart
Lighting Design John Collopy
Sound Design shannyn,art
Caption Technician Jessica Murray
Image Credit Sarah Walker & Theresa Harrison
Deafferent Theatre is an innovative, forward thinking, bilingual theatre company. Deafferent Theatre is rooted in both the theatre community and the Auslan community, and is committed to building connections between both communities by presenting inclusive productions and workshops. The award-winning company was founded by Jessica Moody and Ilana Charnelle Gelbart. Previous productions include Black is the Colour, The Vagina Monologues, Paris is Fine and Ollie and Rose Go Viral! They are the 2018 recipients of a Malthouse In-House Artist Residency.
Visit Deafferent Theatre’s website here.
There is little lost in translation…there are moments where the physicality transcends the words; both the hearing and non-hearing audiences are left to interpret movement, without a word exchanged. Aussie Theatre
Here, the visual language claims its space as an Australian language to be used and seen, rather than one that’s only a side-stage interpretation… [a] powerfully unique translation. Sydney Morning Herald