Experiencing Performing Arts

[Gillian]

Hi all,

this is my first time in this forum. I work in theatre and dance in the realm of visual design.

It occurs to me that a great most performing arts are created on the assumption that an audience can both see and hear. That the sensory experience intended by a show's creators will be the same sensory experience relayed to all audience members.

I'm interested to hear peoples' experiences in attending live performance whether it be theatre, dance, musical concerts, opera, or anything else.

What cues - be they visual, tactile, or otherwise - do you use to interpret sound/rhythm, etc?

Is there anything you wish artists knew about the experience of being deaf, in order to better communicate the ideas in their pieces?

I'm interested in creating work that, rather than catering to a general public, truly aims at giving a specific audience a very special experience. To that end I wondered about a deaf audience. Are there sounds/vibrations that remain intelligible? How do you interpret the world in a way that is different to those that can hear? And how can those without hearing impairments better understand the world in which you live?

If you're interested in talking further, I'd love to hear from you either on this message board, or via email at design@gillianwolpert.com

Thank you very much for your time.

 

[Bebonang]

Just hire at least one ASL interpreter on stage and then have another ASL interpreter on stage while the current ASL interpreter exit and take a break, like take turns. Yes, there should be a tactile sign language interpreter to sit with the Deaf/Blind to interpret what the story of the play is about. We don't need sound unless some Deaf and HOH have hearing aids that will pick up environment sounds (not all sounds are that clear, but could sense on that). Usually interpreters will tell us about the sounds (noises), if we can not hear. It is the same with close captioned on T.V. when they put sounds words to let us know there is a sound like slam the door or phone ringing, etc.

I don't know if you are thinking of having a Deaf theatre or just hearing theatre but want to emphasize on getting an audience who happen to be blind or deaf or both.

As for opera, this is kind of difficult for the interpreters to interpret what the opera singers are saying and performing with sounds. So I don't know.

I also don't know about music concerts as there are HOH people who might be interest in hearing the music that way. Maybe vibrations might help a little.

 

[mistercristofer]

I had a friend who said that during plays and things, aside from lipreading, he was always distracted when an actor appeared slightly nervous...to a degree which I could not tell.