Deaf as a Post in London!
Hello! We are Shaun Blaney (d/Deaf writer/performer) and Emma Copland (director). We have been besties for nearly 20 years and this is only our third time creating a show together!
We're really excited to be staging Deaf as a Post for two weeks at Barons Court Theatre, London this April and hopefully take it onto more of our favourite venues in the future. This is Shaun's first full-length professional play as a writer so it's important to us to put our best feet forward.
This campaign will raise money to ensure that we can pay the incredibly talented professional creatives involved and help to cover some of the extortionate costs that come with making a play. We know times are tough, so any amount that you can share with us is so appreciated. We want to bring a new perspective, a thrilling story, and some hope to a gloomy world. With a little help from you, we're sure we can!
About the writer – Shaun Blaney
I am a d/Deaf performer and writer with profound high frequency hearing loss. I wear two hearing aids, like most of my extended family. The brilliant NHS provided me with two hearing aids at the age of 32, but in reality I’ve needed them a lot longer than that!
I want to draw from my experience to benefit other d/Deaf people, promoting empathy and better ‘listening’ across all audiences, and champion the use of BSL and hearing aids in all art forms.
Mostly I want to make a fantastical, immersive, edge-of-your-seat theatre experience the likes of which has never been seen. Shoot for the moon!
About the Show
BARONS COURT THEATRE | 9 APRIL – 20 APRIL 2024 | 7.30PM
'Does anyone hear me? Over. Hear me? Over. Hear me? Could you speak up? One more time?'
Set in a dystopian London, where hordes of zombie ‘Loopers’ infect their prey with ear-worms of internet clickbait. One reluctant soldier named Goody, cunningly uses his hearing loss to stay alive. As battle intensifies, Goody must choose whether to embrace his isolation and save himself or reconnect with the world and fight for those around him.
In a world where the echoes of binary arguments dominate, Deaf as a Post emerges as a powerful testament to the need to listen in a society overwhelmed by noise. Written by award winning d/Deaf actor Shaun Blaney, whose previous credits include Farr (RTE Ireland), In The Name Of The Son (Greenshoots), Stones In His Pockets (Barn Theatre), Game Of Thrones (HBO), Frankenstein Chronicles (ITV), this play is a vigorous, personal, exploration of high-frequency hearing loss and the profound impact it has on individuals and the ones we love.
Directed by Emma Copland (Bewley's Café award-winning Slippery When Wet), three incredible performers will seamlessly multi-role over eight characters in a fantastical yet disturbingly familiar world. In an immersive soundscape, designed by Garth McConaghie (Derry Girls, Hat Trick Productions & Channel 4 and Flight BBC), lose yourself in a truly multi-dimensional experience!
Deaf as a Post invites you to understand the challenges of people living with hearing aids and hearing loss, all within the gripping embrace of a fantastically wry narrative. Be moved, inspired, and immersed in a landscape where silence speaks louder than words.
Alongside the show, there will be an open rehearsal for local creatives to observe and discuss afterwards, and a post-show discussion and mixers for d/Deaf creatives to network. Resources and sign-posting will be available to communities and audiences involved in this project to support them on their own creative journey.
What We Need
We are applying for funding from several public sources including from Arts Council England, Fenton Trust and many more, but alongside these funds and ticket sales, we'll still come up short! We need your help to raise £2000..... for a skilled d/Deaf designer, travel and accommodation for Emma Copland (director) and Garth McConaghie (sound designer) during the rehearsal period, and extra marketing to make sure we reach everyone.
Talent and Creative Team | Compensating our talented cast, crew, and creative team who work tirelessly to bring this production to life, in line with London Living Wage rate.
Production Design and Set Construction | Design is often the first thing to go in Fringe Theatre and we just don't think that this can be the case with Deaf as a Post. The visual aspect is integral to accessibility and storytelling, however, our current funding situation means very little flexibility and no contingency in our design budget in case of any issues during our process. To us, engaging a d/Deaf designer who can skilfully help us communicate the production on stage is a KEY element of this production.
Marketing and Promotion | We are working hard, with great success so far, to spread the word about Deaf as a Post through various channels, including print and online advertisements, social media campaigns, and community outreach initiatives. Shaun loves a video on socials and Emma's been working hard on outreach already. We have had to increase our marketing budget so we can make our message as accessible as possible so any additional funding will help us boost our campaign and help us spread the word, not just about the production but about making new creative connections.
Since this project has been booked, circumstances have changed and new costs like travel and accommodation have cropped up. Unfortunately these are high costs in London, so any help with these will be much appreciated.
If we don't reach the full amount, everything we get will go towards ensuring the integrity of the piece isn't compromised and we will try to find work arounds for accommodation and travel.
The Impact
Support Artistic Growth | This is the first time the core artist team will be creating work with hearing loss at its centre. Your contribution allows us to connect, create and learn from other d/Deaf collaborators, to create more work in the future for this overlooked audience.
Build a Network | Barons Court Theatre have a strong, creative network and we hope to work with them in this project to build stronger connections between the d/Deaf community and the local theatre scene.
Support Diversity and Inclusion | Your support helps us amplify voices of those with hearing differences and their experiences of marginalisation and ableism. It also helps us engage a more diverse audience and draw them further into the theatre. Help us target specific communities with ticket-offers, discounts, and incentives.
The Future | This is only the start for Deaf as a Post, we have big plans. Help us begin the journey of this wonderful production and stay in touch with its development, so we can bring it to as many audiences as possible.
Other Ways You Can Help
If financially contributing just isn’t something you can do right now, we understand! (We’re starving artists - we really understand) BUT you can still hugely help us by spreading the word about this campaign and our show:
1) Share this campaign with friends, family and co-workers
2) Like our social media pages and share our posts! Follow us on Instagram @dandelionproductions_ and on Facebook @dandelionproductionsuk - each new follower and post engagement helps new audiences find us!
3) Finally, come to our shows! Tell your friends, family, bitter enemies about the wonder of this exciting, challenging new work. Get your tickets for out London shows at: https://www.baronscourttheatre.com/deaf-as-a-post
