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Young Roots Project
Young Roots is an exciting new project co-ordinated by Action Deafness Families. We need young people to help us research the history of Deafness and the Deaf community in Leicestershire.
Age you aged 11-25?
Are you Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or interested in working with the Deaf community?
We need young creatives, photographers and researchers to help produce a new documentary, exhibition display at Leicester Museaum, and to help produce and publish a Dictionary of Regional Signs.
No prior experience neccessary. This is a great opportunity to learn production skills and get involved in the development of this exciting project.
Please contact Charlotte Chapman for more information on Tel: 0844 593 8440
Or Email: charlottechapman@actiondeafness.org.uk
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The Summer Spectacular
Is your school interested in being part of a fantastic new production with a fusion
of song, dance and sign language?
Do you have Dance, Drama, or Singing groups within your college?
Are you looking for an innovative new project to work on?
Do you groups already have a piece that could include British Sign Language?
Action Deafness’ Summer Spectacular promises to be a show like you’ve never seen before! Working with young people across Leicester city and County, we aim to
co-ordinate a variety-style show incorporating British Sign Language into exciting
song & dance pieces.
No previous experience or BSL needed!
Please contact Charlotte on Tel: 0844 593 8440
Email: charlottechapman@actiondeafness.org.uk
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The Signing, Shining Star
During the Summer of 2010, we were approached by author Garry Slack and asked to produce a live version of his book ‘The Shining Signing Star’. We took on the challenge and set about finding local schools that would be interested in participating. After much persuading, we finally managed to secure enough children to make the production work.
We worked with 3 different schools, around 60 children, with ages ranging from 6 years old up to 11 years old. All 60 children were taught the three songs from the performance as well as their individual lines and signs. I visited each school, twice a week for six weeks to prepare them for the performance.
During these six weeks we secured the venue, staging, lighting and backdrop. We booked a choir to appear at the performance, and sent invites to special guests. We also created promotional materials and publicised the event extensively. Costumes for all 60 children were made by hand by a willing volunteer and we made sure the evening was accessible to a wide ranging audience.
The performance was arranged for Wednesday 8th December at Leicester Cathedral. During the rehearsal and organisation time, we received a call from the BBC SeeHear programme. They heard about the event after we sent an invite to one of their producers, Kate Hillman. They arranged to come and film some rehearsals with the children as well as filming the full event to include in their Christmas episode on 15th December.
Rehearsals with the children continued until the day of the performance. This was the first time that all three schools had come together to practice. To help us with the proceedings, we were lucky enough to have children’s television presenter Dave Benson Philips.
The event started with a drinks reception for special guests, including the Chief Executive of the City Council Sheila Lock, the Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Robert Wann and the Chairman of the County Council Mr Peter Osborne and his wife Catherine.
Around 350 people bought tickets and came to the event including members of the Deaf Community and some students from local special needs schools. The Emmanual Apostolic Gospel Academy opened the evening by singing and signing some traditional Christmas carols. The event was introduced by Craig Crowley and Dave Benson Philips. The children then performed the signed nativity to a very excited and positive audience. The evening finished with the audience being taught some sign language by Dave Benson Philips and some more signed carols by the gospel choir. All audience members were treated to a mince pie as they left.
All attendees, volunteers and staff who were involved in the evening expressed how much they had enjoyed themselves and how well the children had done. The event was featured on the front page of the Leicester Mercury on Thursday 9th December along with a follow up article on Page 4. It was also featured, as planned, on the SeeHear programme on BBC 2 on Wednesday 15th December.
