This year sees the 10th Anniversary of the launch of the Technical Theatre BSL glosssary! What an achievement!
As ever thanks are due to the most fantastic team that gathered together in October 2012 to put the glossary together. Hats off to the translation team for their dedication and hard work – Norma McGilp, Davy Tague, Steven Webb (D-Live! Theatre), Daryl Jackson, Mary-Jayne Russell de Clifford and Jean St Clair. Thanks too to Judith Jackson for moderating the BSL and to Ilan Dwek for reviewing the signs with Jean, Judith and myself.
I am very grateful to Ian Scott (lighting designer) Jo Rawlinson (lecturer in stage management at Rose Bruford), Hayley Smith (wardrobe and costume production), James Hartland (Sound Engineer) and Jo Paul (scenographer) for kick-starting the vocabulary lists with their technical theatre presentations. Cheers and huge thanks to Neil Francis and all at Kingswood School for hosting us so well; interpreters Rosie Giarratana and Anna Francis; film makers Ted Evans and Bim Ajadi, whose films have been much admired and quite right too! They are beautiful.
Thanks to Robin Townley at ABTT, where the project is a working committee; Steve Mannix – Mercury Theatre Colchester; Rob West – Head of Education and Skills, CBI; Deepa Shastri – Freelance BSL consultant; Jeni Draper – Artistic Director, Fingersmiths; Ramon Woolfe – Drip Media TV; Jodi Myers – Jodi Myers Projects; John Wilson; Dr Robert Adam – Heriot Watt University; Dr Jordan Fenlon – DCAL; Professor Kathy Dacre; Graeae Theatre Company; Deafinitely Theatre Company; Richard France; and Ged Petrie – your support has been invaluable.
Thanks also to ACE for funding for the project. I’m very grateful.
It is gratifying to see that the glossary is being visited and viewed. This is great news! And what is also really pleasing is that when I talk about the glossary people’s eyes light up!
And in this 10th anniversary year I’m excited to have made contact with Gail Pallin and Iain McConnell of CallQ – a brilliantly innovative way to learn how to call shows and to practice you skills. Take a look. I look forward to more conversation about how we can make this accessible to BSL users!
The future looks bright! There are more and more Deaf and disabled people working in the arts and that can only be a good thing. Onward and upward and something to cheer us in these difficult times.
As ever, get in touch, stay in touch and let us know what you think.
Best wishes for the festive season!
Ali
TechTheatreBSL 