‘Antony and Cleopatra’: A unique theatrical experiment has the deaf community calling for more British Sign Language (BSL) productions

The Globe theatre’s bilingual production using BSL and spoken word has resonated widely, especially with people within the South Asian deaf community…

By Suman Bhuchar

THE CURRENT ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ (which finishes tomorrow) at the Globe Theatre in London is a bold experiment in inclusivity and interpretation. www.asianculturevulture.com went to see it along with a BSL speaker, Sarla Meisuria.

I am a hearing person who does not sign, whilst Meisuria is an expert in BSL, and she has worked tirelessly to eradicate the taboo of deafness within the South Asian community and is an advocate for the South Asian deaf community.

Both of us experienced the excitement of being at the Globe Theatre and enjoying the spectacle together.

Director Blanche McIntyre has created two worlds on stage – that of the Romans and the Egyptians.

Cleopatra is played by Nadia Nadarajah, a deaf actor and her maids Charmian (Zoe McWhinney) and Iras (Gabriella Leon) all communicate in sign.

In the programme notes, McInytre and her Associate Director Charlotte Arrowsmith explain the process of making a bilingual production.

“The story is a clash of two great cultures and empires. Rome is young, macho, emotionally repressed; Egypt is ancient, gender-equal, emotionally direct but not warlike and the failure of the two cultures to understand each other is one of the causes of the conflict.”

Arrowsmith explains that although Antony and Cleopatra as rulers have equality between them, it is imbalanced – analogous to the everyday situation – where a hearing person has an advantage over a deaf person, because we live in a hearing world.

“A bilingual world is the goal where everyone adapts equally and communicates freely.

“We hope to show this on stage through Antony and Cleopatra’s love.”

Mark Antony played by John Hollingworth is a Roman military general who speaks in a composed manner, as do most of his men but as the plot moves on he learns how to communicate with Cleopatra in sign (i.e. integrating as equals).

There are many deaf actors in the show, including Nadeem Islam, who as Alexas, carries messages between the two lovers.

There were also many deaf audience watching the show, and it is a complicated watch.

It does help if you know the story and Shakespeare’s language. I studied Shakespeare at school especially this play, while Meisuria didn’t.

I am not clear – how beautiful the sign was for “the barge she sat in…” speech by Enobarbus (finely played by Daniel Millar) describing the luxury and opulence of how Cleopatra lived to his Roman mates.

Or at the end speech when Cleopatra decides to commit suicide: “Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have immortal longings in me”.

This production of ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ is a radical experiment and deserves much applause.

McIntyre explained that they spent 10 days with deaf members of the company, translating the text into modern English and then BSL which was filmed so it could be used as a resource in rehearsal.

Arrowsmith points out that translating with BSL is not as simple as adjusting the tones to a voice but about building up the picture in our minds “focussing on emotions and how to express them visually and on body language – all to animate the words.”

We did get the colour coding in the round orb above stage where subtitles were projected along with other screens dotted around the Globe auditorium.

Meisuria who sent me her thoughts written on email said: “It was lovely to see a different show and place too.

First, I couldn’t understand the BSL and the different meaning in the subtitles. I have never studied Shakespeare’s language and it is very difficult to understand. It is not my first language. It is very complicated.” (Although deaf people are now taught Shakespeare in school).

Even though the live music was not signed, Meisuria was able to hear it, as she wore hearing aids.
She acknowledged the need to pre-prepare by reading all the basic information about the show beforehand in order to get the best experience.

Nadarajah is an actor she knows well and enjoyed the scenes as she signed/spoke and there was a total reverential hush in the auditorium.

Meisuria who describes herself as “Deaf Asian female, British Sign Language Teacher raising Deaf Equality and Access need for Deaf people”, has been attending signed performances at theatres/films for over two decades.

She says: “I would like see more Asian shows including Deaf and BSL,” as a matter of course, and “I want to encourage Asian people to learn BSL and support Deaf community into Art and careers.”

All Antony and Cleopatra pictures ©EllieKurttz

Listings
‘Antony and Cleopatra’ finishes tomorrow (September 15) – two performances – 1pm & 6pm
Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk London SE1 9DT

https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/antony-and-cleopatra/#book