GUEST POST - EJ Raymond on what deaf children and young people can expect from North East Deaf Youth Theatre
With the summer holidays well underway, Deaf actor and writer EJ Raymond tells Deaf journalist Liam O’Dell all about their week of free workshops for deaf children and young people which begin next week.
“It’s up to the children,” EJ writes over email when I ask them what youngsters can expect from the sessions on offer. “It could be anything they would like to learn, including how to make a storyboard, puppetry/shadow work, how to write a story (for a short film or book), lighting work, costumes and much more. They might be doing something they have never done before, so it’s good for them to learn something new.”
That’s just one of the aims of the workshops, as organiser Unfolding Theatre also hope they’ll support deaf children and young people to develop creative skills, build confidence and form new friendships.
“I believe that drama/theatre/activities workshops help deaf children to build their confidence and their skills that other activities might not have taught them,” continues EJ. “That’s why I set up the workshop, to show them options that exist out there, for example not just working on stage and in front of camera but also backstage and behind-the-scenes.
“That’s very important for [deaf youth] to be aware of; what actually exists so that they can give opportunities a try.”
It’s a drive which EJ knows all too well, as they recall the “relentless” limitations applied to deaf people: that they can’t drive, read, act or make or create theatre.
“I was kicked out of language classes [and] music classes,” they explain. “I was rejected from drama class because of my deafness. I was repeatedly told by teachers, ‘you can’t act because you’re deaf, you need to hear the cue, and with the dialogues…’
“Now that I am getting older, I thought it was over, but I was wrong,” EJ continues. “People kept saying that children have no imagination, they need assistance and so on and so forth. So, I had to disagree with that; it’s due to those beliefs that deaf children come to rely on them. North East Deaf Youth Theatre is here to encourage deaf young people to do it themselves – I’m always there to help if they get stuck, of course.”
We’ve already seen what theatre can do for Deaf young people. Earlier this month, Deaf teenager Eloise Pennycott won a playwrighting competition to have a short 45-minute production put on at the National Theatre. Her play, Barrier(s), explored a queer relationship between a Deaf woman and her hearing partner in an increasingly discriminatory society.
“There is so much deaf talent out there and more deaf young people to keep it up over the years without stopping,” notes EJ. “Hearing talent never stops, so why not deaf talent as well? Let their dreams happen.
“There’s only a few Deaf Youth Theatres in the UK that have been recognised. I would love to see every region to set up Deaf Youth Theatre so that deaf young people don’t have too far to travel.
“I would love to keep in touch with all deaf youth theatres, to keep connection with each other and support deaf young people all over the UK,” they say. “Every young deaf people have right to enjoy themselves through young age.”
Following next week’s workshop, EJ says future sessions could look at two different styles – ‘fun’ for those who enjoy the activities without performing in front of an audience, and ‘professional’ for those considering a career in acting.
“In fact, I’m very open-minded to what children and young people want and need,” they add.
The free North East Deaf Youth Theatre workshops run from Monday 1 August to Friday 5 August, with sessions for 7 to 10-year-olds taking place from 9:30am to 12:30pm and activities for 11 to 16-year-olds running from 2pm to 5pm.
Running at the Drama Studio at Jesmond Park Academy, parents and guardians can book places for their children on Eventbrite and find out more information on the North East Deaf Youth Theatre webpage.
Image credit: Ant Belle