Extraordinary Wall o̶f̶ ̶Si̶l̶e̶n̶c̶e̶ at HOME

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

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Extraordinary Wall o̶f̶ ̶Si̶l̶e̶n̶c̶e̶

HOME Manchester, Manchester
12-22 February 2020
Date
Time
Session Features
12 Feb 2020
7:45 pm
13 Feb 2020
7:45 pm
14 Feb 2020
7:45 pm
15 Feb 2020
2:15 pm
15 Feb 2020
7:45 pm

See website for more sessions

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Alex Brenner
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Playing at HOME this February, presented by Ad Infinitum, Extraordinary Wall o̶f̶ ̶Si̶l̶e̶n̶c̶e̶ is a new devised performance illuminating a pivotal time in history for the D/deaf community. In 1880, The Milan Conference passed eight resolutions on Deaf education. Banning the use of sign language in schools around the world, the conference stated that Oralism (an oral education) was superior to a signed eduction. As a result, Deaf children were exposed to an abusive system of speech therapy, one which would make them speak, ‘hear’ and lip read.

A new devised performance illuminating a pivotal time in history for the D/deaf community.

This ruling dominated for over a century despite poor results and the fact that 70% of Deaf children in the UK left school with a reading age of 7-8. Until recently, the experiences of these people have largely gone undocumented, as sign language does not exist in written form, and access to video recording was limited, until more recently.

Extraordinary Wall o̶f̶ ̶Si̶l̶e̶n̶c̶e̶ traces the ignorance and oppression faced by the Deaf community from this critical moment in time. Told from the perspective of three characters, Helen, Alan and Graham, their powerful coming-of-age stories unfold as they begin the question the world around them. Uniting in a struggle against oppression, violence and ignorance, the three experience the hangover from the dangerous and damaging ideology of 1880.

Extraordinary Wall o̶f̶ ̶Si̶l̶e̶n̶c̶e̶ looks to be a stunning sensory performance.

This work is the result of six years of collaboration between Ad Infinitum and a group of exceptional Deaf artists, academics and leaders. Ad Infinitum have shaped the performance from real-life testimonies collected through 40-hours of interviews with Deaf people from all over the UK. Combining the company’s signature blend of physicality with the beauty of British Sign Language, Extraordinary Wall o̶f̶ ̶Si̶l̶e̶n̶c̶e̶ looks to be a stunning sensory performance.

Performed by three Deaf actors and one hearing actor, Extraordinary Wall is a bilingual performance in English and BSL with integrated captioning.

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Where to go near Extraordinary Wall o̶f̶ ̶Si̶l̶e̶n̶c̶e̶ at HOME

Manchester
Restaurant
Indian Tiffin Room, Manchester

Indian Tiffin Room is a restaurant specialising in Indian street food, with branches in Cheadle and Manchester. This is the information for the Manchester venue.

The Ritz Manchester live music venue
Manchester
Music venue
The Ritz

The Ritz was originally a dance hall, built in 1928, has hosted The Beatles, Frank Sinatra and The Smiths and is still going strong as a gig venue now.

Homeground
Manchester
Event venue
Homeground

Homeground is HOME’s brand new outdoor venue, providing an open-air space for theatre, food, film, music, comedy and more.

Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Burgess Cafe Bar
at IABF

Small but perfectly-formed café – which also serves as the in-house bookstore, stocking all manner of Burgess-related works, along with recordings of his music. It’s a welcoming space, with huge glass windows making for a bright, welcoming atmosphere.

Rain Bar pub in Manchester
City Centre
Bar or Pub
Rain Bar

This huge three-floor pub, formerly a Victorian warehouse, then an umbrella factory (hence the name), has one of the city centre’s largest beer gardens. The two-tier terrace overlooks the Rochdale canal and what used to be the back of the Hacienda, providing an unusual, historic view of the city.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
The Briton’s Protection

Standing on the corner of a junction opposite The Bridgewater Hall, The Briton’s Protection is Manchester’s oldest pub. It has occupied the same spot since 1795, going under the equally

Castlefield Gallery, Manchester
Castlefield
Gallery
Castlefield Gallery

The influential Castlefield Gallery sits at the edge of Manchester’s exciting Castlefield district, an ideal home for thought-provoking contemporary art.

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