A “unique opportunity to present a story of the barriers deaf people with dementia face within the healthcare system” is to be performed in Birmingham and London.
Deafinitely Theatre’s The Promise, a co-production with Birmingham Rep and Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, is a new piece of writing directed by Deafinitely Theatre’s artistic director Paula Garfield. She has written it with journalist Melissa Mostyn.
Garfield said, “communication breakdowns and the knock-on effects these have on deaf people’s own and their families’ well-being are huge issues that audiences should be educated on.
“There are many deaf people who’ve been affected by dementia, yet their stories have never been told. Many people are unaware of how to seek support. Information about dementia is mostly in written English, which can be a huge barrier. The play serves as a poignant example of how easily basic human rights can be compromised.”
The Promise will be performed in spoken English and British Sign Language (BSL) with captions. It will be staged at Birmingham Rep from Friday 5 until Saturday 13 April 2024 before transferring to the Lyric Hammersmith from Tuesday 30 April until Saturday 11 May.