Deaf actors sign up for a starring role

Director Emily Douglas signs “P” for play while, from left, Samantha Green, Raza Al-Mustafa, Adeel Asif and Sameer Steers act out a scene

A new theatre show will give Oldham’s Deaf Diversity Social Club a starring role.

University student Emily Douglas came up with the idea of creating a show using deaf actors and sign language after living with her deaf grandmother, who died last year.

The play focuses on the everyday difficulties deaf people face, from general family life to work and even visiting the doctor.

Emily (22) said: “A lot of people see being deaf as a huge disadvantage, but after living with my nana I know that it doesn’t have to be like that. I wanted to show you can do anything you want to do; it doesn’t have to be a disability.”

The play, which has been developed during weekly meetings at Mahdlo, involves actors from Oldham’s Deaf Diversity Social Club, who sign the story while Emily, from Clarksfield, provides the speech.

The project is part of Emily’s dissertation for her Media and Performance degree at Salford University.

The performance will be on Friday at 7.30pm in the Robert Powell Theatre, Salford. Emily is also hoping to perform the show in Oldham