Elsewhere in the ICAF programme, tg Signum performs Silent Flight, the autobiographical tale by actor Ali Shafiee, who fled Iran at the age of 19. His tale is told completely in Dutch Sign Language, supported by a voice interpreter and subtitles in English. In this workshop, director Steef Kersbergen and (WORKSHOP 1: 13.30-15.00) sign language teacher Gomer Otterspeer, (WORKSHOP 2 15.30-17.00) Ali Shafiee introduce you to the ins and outs of sign-language-based-theatre. Don’t worry if you don’t know much (or any) sign language: an interpreter will be present and you will be guided through the whole process.
The workshop consists of three components:
First, we do a few exercises to calm down the brain and eyes and open up the perceptiveness of meaning and emotional understanding. This is a crucial step for participants to observe (and understand) sign language without an interpreter.
Secondly, the participants will be taken through a short exercise of visual and physical storytelling, where they express themselves or part of a small story through simple movement and signs.
Thirdly, the participants will create a group composition where visuals, movement and sign language will be combined with actual sound and voice. Thus we collaboratively create a small performance in the style of tg Signum.
Steef and Gomer or Ali will support all participants in the discovery of their own expressive signs, towards an expressive collective story.
The workshop will be conducted in spoken English and Dutch Sign Language.