My Darling Christopher with HOME
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Set at the time of World War II, My Darling Christopher is based on the true story of Clive, a young boy who contracted Meningitis and lost both his sight and his hearing.
Now 15 years old, Clive attends Goring School, having been evacuated from Margate School for the Deaf. His father, Christopher is away serving in the Navy when he receives a heartfelt letter from his wife, Dorothy. As Christopher reads the letter we hear the shocking story of a warplane crashing to the ground close to Clive’s classroom.
This short film, which interweaves English, BSL and Visual Vernacular, has been created as part of a larger theatre project to create a full theatre production entitled A New Way of Life. Unfortunately, the wider project, which explores Clive’s story, has now been put on hold due to lockdown measures.
Created in collaboration with RADA Festival, My Darling Christopher will be shared as part of HOME Manchester’s Homemakers Festival. The piece has been written, shot and edited during lockdown by Hot Coals Theatre, who create highly visual theatre which is accessible to both hearing and d/Deaf audiences.
Innovative, visual and inclusive, My Darling Christopher uses unique theatrical language to shine a light on a Deaf person’s experience of war.
