The cast of Deaf Republic [Johan Persson]
DEAF REPUBLIC
Royal Court Theatre
4.5 stars
Adapted from the poetry of Ukrainian-American Ilya Kaminsky, Deaf Republic is a searing exploration of war and collective resistance. Co-written by sign language poet Zoë McWhinney with Bush Moukarzel and Ben Kidd, who also co-direct, the production features both deaf and hearing actors, while imaginative puppetry reinforces themes of control and compliance.
Blending spoken English, British Sign Language, surtitles, and visual prompts, the show opens with a playful exchange between Alfonso, the signer (Romel Belcher), and Sonya, aka the worder (Caoimhe Coburn Gray).
Alfonso describes how a word like “colonialism” can carry layered meanings in sign language, highlighting the nuance and expressiveness that spoken English often lacks. He likens interpreting to puppetry – the interpreter doesn’t speak for themself but repeats the words they’re given.
We are asked to imagine Alfonso and Sonya as a married couple expecting a baby. They run a puppet theatre and perform weekly shows in the fictional town of Vasenka.
Caoimhe Coburn Gray and Romel Belcher in Deaf Republic [Johan Persson]
Their world darkens with the return of war. When Petya, a child and Sonya’s younger cousin, is killed by a soldier (Dylan Tonge Jones) for disobeying orders he couldn’t hear, the townspeople respond by collectively going deaf – an act of solidarity and defiance.
As they are picked off by the occupiers, the people’s resistance deepens. Pavel (Eoin Gleeson), camera in hand, bears silent witness. Violence is met with violence as Momma Galya (Derbhle Crotty) and her girls (Kate Finegan and Lisa Kelly) exact a chilling revenge on their oppressors.
Full of striking images, Deaf Republic explores everything from the art of storytelling through sign language to the brutal realities of war. As the bodies pile up, they are strung up and suspended like animal carcasses in an abattoir, before being hoisted into the flies.
It’s an extraordinary performance by Dublin-based Dead Centre who interweave aerial performance, puppetry, film, a live drone and poetic fragments to stunning effect.
Unmissable.
Until September 13
royalcourttheatre.com/
