I am gratified to be chosen as the first Deaf Chair of SPIT, and it gives me great pleasure to be working with the SPIT Executive Committee and people who are truly committed to moving forward to the new Millennium in the year 2000.
One of the main aims of SPIT is to raise the standard of theatre interpreting which isn't an easy task. At present there is no specific qualification in theatre interpreting and the registering body for British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters (CACDP) doesn't hold a list of qualified interpreters who are recognised for their good work in sign interpreting theatre performances. Also over the last few years there have been changes to the curriculum and standard of training in BSL, and in interpreting in general, and new courses are being set up around the country.
On one of the new courses, NVQ Level 4, BSL interpreters are also taught about the language and culture of the theatre and we hope that this continues. In an ideal world we would like all theatre interpreters to have completed specialised training in interpreting theatre and for there to be a qualification standard which would easily identify people who are able to give a quality sign language interpretation of theatre performances.
Until then we have to make the best of the circumstances and we appreciate immensely the good work of interpreters who make it possible for us Deaf people to have access to theatre, to enjoy and become part of theatre's audiences. The visual magic of a performance comes alive and becomes comprehensible with the aid of an interpreter. The background, the props and the moving figures on stage stimulate the imagination.
The majority of SPIT's member organisations are from the South of England and I want to encourage more people, theatres and organisations from the North of England and from Scotland, Wales and Ireland to join SPIT.
I also want to improve further SPIT's contact and communication with the Deaf community. The views and opinions of Deaf people are essential to ensure that they all enjoy going to our theatres. Any suggestions from you would be very welcome.
I believe that Deaf people should have equal access to theatres and performances as their hearing peers.
SPIT Listings only include SLIPs (sign language interpreted performances) by members of SPIT. If you don't see a particular theatre or company listed, that you know offers SLIPs, it is probably because they aren't a member.
SPIT is a non profit-making charity, so we need venues & companies to join our membership in order to function. The listings service is only one of the invaluable services which SPIT offers. So if you want your local venue or company's SLIPs to be included in the SPIT listing please encourage them to join us! And SPIT Members, we can only include your details if you send them to us in time.
Join SPIT's FREE mailing list. If you receive SPIT News by post, your name is already on the database.
Imagine you are a hearing person visiting a different country where they don't speak English (your language). You find a play you would like to see, but it's being performed in the language of that country, which you don't understand. However the theatre has employed an interpreter to interpret the play. You think "Great, I'll be able to understand the play", so you book, travel to the theatre & sit down in your seat, ready to enjoy the play. The play begins, the interpreter starts to interpret but you can't understand what they're saying and you don't understand what they're saying all the way through the play.
When the play's finished you want to complain to the theatre staff but you can't speak their language and they don't speak English. So you go home and decide you will never go to another performance that claims to be interpreted into your language again.
The next day you meet an English speaking friend, who tells you that the person interpreting the performance is not fluent in English, has never passed an English language examination and has never been trained as an interpreter. Now you know why you couldn't understand the performance. You are disappointed and angry with the theatre who claimed they were providing an interpreted performance but who used someone who was unqualified and untrained to interpret the performance into English.
If you are Deaf and have ever attended a performance by an interpreter who isn't fully qualified in British Sign Language, or who hasn't been trained as an interpreter, such an experience might sound familiar. We know many of you have, because you have told us about it (and my colleagues on the SPIT Executive who are Deaf have also had the same experience). We know that some of you have been so put off that you haven't been to another SLIP since; not just at that venue, but you haven't gone to any other theatre because you don't want to take the risk.
This story is a crude attempt to get the message across to hearing people in theatre venues, and companies who are employing unqualified and untrained interpreters. They claim that they are providing sign language interpretation for Deaf people . But they are not.
SPIT has been trying to get this message across for over 5 years. We have researched and set the minimum standard for theatre interpreting in consultation with the appropriate bodies (including CACDP, the registering body for BSL interpreters). We have told theatre organisations about the importance of only employing people who meet the minimum standard through research reports, information packs, conferences, newsletter articles. We have written directly to theatres after receiving specific complaints from Deaf audience members.
But there are still venues and companies which are employing people who cannot give a quality interpretation that Deaf people can understand and we are disappointed to say that some of them are members of SPIT. Despite all we are doing to get this message across some people are still not listening to us and by not listening to us they are not listening to Deaf people.
So the message again is:
Make it your Millennium resolution to always follow this standard.
SPIT holds a database of theatre interpreters who meet the minimum standard of qualifications and training. If you would like a copy of this list please contact SPIT.
On the performance listings that accompany SPIT News we identify the interpreters who meet the minimum standard needed to give a good quality interpretation.
StageSign is a company that organises and publicises sign interpreted theatre performances for Deaf people. Earlier this year we held a Forum in conjunction with the Almeida Theatre in London and theatre interpreter Mary Connell. We invited 40 Deaf people to see a signed performance and join us afterwards to discuss the performance and share views - over a glass of wine.
We watched Aunt Dan & Lemon with Miranda Richardson and then the real action happened, the Forum. John Wilson (SPIT Executive & Deaf Arts Officer, SHAPE London) chaired it and throughout we had interesting and informative feedback.
We discussed a range of different topics including the viability of subtitles, where the Deaf audience should sit, interpreters shadowing actors, Deaf theatre versus interpreted theatre, monitor screens with the interpreter on, concessionary tickets for Deaf people, increasing access for Deaf people and the choice of interpreters. People filled out our questionnaire and everyone thought that the interpreter, Mary Connell, had done an extremely good interpretation of the play. People realised that the interpreter is restricted in a multi-character play, and only one of him/her. Having more than one interpreter would help, but lack of money means that this is impractical. A number of people said they don't go to their local theatre because they don't understand the interpreter.
One topic that came up constantly was the lack of money available to provide access for Deaf people to theatrical productions for both signed performances and Deaf theatre. One way to ensure that Deaf people have more access to theatre would be to provide more Deaf Theatre or roles for Deaf people.
As a direct consequence of this Forum, StageSign has decided to try to raise sponsorship for both these areas. We also we want to work towards putting on a production with all the parts played by Deaf actors. So we want to hear from Deaf actors, writers and those with experience of the theatre. Please get in touch if you would like to be involved in this project.
I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who came. We'll be working on all of the ideas that were discussed, to make theatres a more friendly place. For such as these will be a channel for Deaf people to have their say to theatres, who will see that there are plenty of Deaf people who want to come to the theatre.
You can contact Jane at StageSign on tel/fax: 0121 486 3144 or email: Stagesign@signing-people.co.uk
SPIT is currently organising its next conference which will be held in March 2000 (date and venue to be confirmed). The conference will be focusing on the needs of Deaf audiences and will be open to theatre attenders as well as people working in theatre organisations. We will be sending a letter to you all nearer the time giving you full details.
The British Museum in London has regular BSL interpreted talks, usually on the third Wednesday of the month at 12.45pm, in different parts of the museum and about a different subject each month. On 15 December, Helen Glaister tells the history of gold and silver in China, interpreted by Rachel Mapson, with free tickets afterwards for the temporary exhibition Gilded Dragons, showing many objects that have never been seen outside China before. The talk on 19 January will look at how artists have imagined the end of the world. Portable induction loops are available at these talks.
The British Museum is in Great Russell Street, near Tottenham Court Road, Holborn and Russell Square tube stations, and entrance to most parts of the Museum is free.
Minicom: 0207 323 8920
Voice: 0207 323 8299
E-mail: info@british-museum.ac.uk
If you have any projects that you would like share with other SPIT members, please send the details to Sarah Sills at SPIT.
Any photos or images of events past and present are always gratefully received, and we promise to return them to you as soon as they have been used.