Thought-provoking gig theatre at the Lemon Tree that teaches BSL and rethinks sound.
For Joe (Jamie Rea) in The Singer, music isn’t something you listen to. It’s something that you feel. “Music isn’t just for the lugs,” he tells Andy (Dylan Wood), a struggling musician he befriends after watching him busk. Joe helps Andy realise there are other ways to experience music and helps better his music and his life. With his device that helps Joe feel the music, called a Subpack, the pair journey into writing music for everyone to experience.
This is gig theatre at its best with an interactive lesson in BSL halfway through. All original songs crafted by KT Tunstall, whose folk, indie / rock scores bring the whole show together, with the chorus of the song Find My Feet being taught to the audience in BSL at the midpoint of the show. This was a great addition to the show giving the audience a chance to experience BSL and see how expressive it can be.
Accessibility done right
When it comes to accessibility, there is no show like this. The set was crafted beautifully, with multiple screens showing captions with performers signing in BSL throughout. One viewer who is deaf told me, “This is the first show I’ve ever been to where I can follow it along the whole way and not miss anything that is said or the context of what is said.” Being what they call a ‘hearie’ (someone who can hear), this show was eye-opening, showing music presented in different ways, and that music is a language we all speak, though some speak it differently. The story was moving and made me wonder what other parts of everyday life I am taking for granted. It’s truly thought-provoking and fun.
A great show for people of all abilities. The Singer is directed by Cora Bissett, based on the short film of the same title she made with Jamie Rea. You’ll find it at the Lemon Tree until Saturday 12th September, with tickets available from Aberdeen Performing Arts.
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