Deafinitely Theatre, Birmingham Rep and Lyric Hammersmith Theatre present
Cast
Anna Seymour as Rita
Erin Hutching as Jane
James Boyle as Jake
Louis Neethling as Mike
Readmoreaboutthecastonourwebsite.
Creative Team
Co-writers – Paula Garfield & Melissa
Mostyn
Director – Paula Garfield
Associate Director – Lisa Kelly
Set & Costume Designer – Paul Burgess
Lighting Designer – Holly Ellis
Sound Designer & Composer – Marie
Zschommler
Video Designer – Ben Glover
Associate Video Designer – Douglas Baker
Movement Director – Angela Gasparetto
BSL Director – David Sands
Shakespeare Translation – William Grint
Voice Coach – Zoe Littleton
Consultants
Dr Emma Ferguson-Coleman
Dr Joanna Atkinson-Hearn
Nicky Taylor
Avril Hepner
British Deaf Association
Carolyn Denmark
Stage Management
Stage Manager – Gemma Scott
Assistant Stage Manager – Fran Osimani
Production Team
Production Manager – Charlotte Ranson
Touring Technician – Myles Robinson
Costume Supervisor – Isobel Pellow
Photography
Becky Bailey
Videography
Frazer Cobb Media
Deafinitely Theatre Staff
Artistic Director – Paula Garfield
Executive Director – Frankie George
Senior Producer – Conrad Lynch
General Manager – Sophie Flack
Administrator – Catalina Corbett
Communications Officer – Jasmine Whipps
Youth Coordinator – Dilara Earle
Fundraising Consultant – Anna Coombs
Finance Consultant – Jodie Cramphorn
Marketing – Natalie Yalden for Tandem
PR – Kate Morley PR
Accountancy – MHA MacIntyre Hudson
Deafinitely Theatre Board of Trustees
Louise Stephens – Chair
Mark Hopkinson – Vice Chair
Clive Young
Dr Junhui Yang
Kimberley Thomas
Liina Lowe
Sanchu Iyer
Tom Robbins
Special Thanks
Alim Jadavji, Alzheimer’s Society, British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust, Claire
Cummings, Daryl Jackson, Jean St Clair, Julian Peedle-Calloo, Old Diorama Arts
Centre, Sara Kelly, Stage Sound Services, The Yellow, White Light, all the staff at The Rep and Lyric Theatre Hammersmith and all of our British Sign Language interpreters, Friends and communication volunteers for making this production possible
Ifyouhavebeenaffectedbyanyoftheissuesraisedintheperformance,therearedetails oforganisationsthatoffersupportandadviceonourwebsiteat www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk
Kindly supported by
Welcome to The Promise…
I'm pleased to welcome you to ThePromise , a heartfelt look at how dementia affects one family. Our first coproduction with Birmingham Rep and Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, we’re delighted to highlight the challenges faced in our community with this show and explore how families navigate the effects of memory loss, facing an inaccessible healthcare system to try and find a diagnosis.
Both myself and Melissa Mostyn, have spent two years crafting this play, drawing from our own experiences and working closely with others in the community and field leaders in dementia to bring you this world premiere – I want to thank each person who took the time to share their open and honest experiences, without you this play would not be what it is. Thank you too, our audience, for coming to see the show where British Sign Language, creative captions and spoken English demonstrate how language, memory, and family relationships are all connected. I hope you enjoy ThePromiseas much as we enjoyed making it.
PaulaGarfield,ArtisticDirectorofDeafinitelyTheatre
About Deafinitely Theatre
Deafinitely Theatre is the first deaf launched and led professional theatre company in the UK, producing quality bilingual theatre in British Sign Language and spoken English. Our vision is a world where deaf people are a valued part of the national theatre landscape, recognised for the excellence of their work. To find out more and stay up to date with our projects join our mailing list at www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk
About The Rep
The Rep is the oldest building-based theatre company in the UK and has an unparalleled pioneering history. It is the only producing theatre in the UK’s Second City and has been at the forefront of theatre in the UK for over 100 years. The Rep’s mission is to create artistically ambitious, world class, popular theatre for everyone. www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
About Lyric Hammersmith Theatre
The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre produces bold and relevant world-class theatre from the heart of Hammersmith, the theatre’s home for more than 125 years. A major force in London and UK theatre, the Lyric produces adventurous and acclaimed theatrical work that tells the stories that matter www.lyric.co.uk
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#ThePromise
Announcing our next World Café event!
Thursday 25 April 2024, 11am – 4pm @ BAB NQ, Manchester.
Join us for a series of conversations over tea and coffee as we chat together about dementia in the deaf community and what could be done to improve services.
Book online now at www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk