Entertainment For & By Deaf People
Deaf people have traditionally used their natural expressive selves, sign language and body movements to tell stories to its Deaf community and beyond. Inevitably, groups of dedicated Deaf actors and performers formed Theatre of the Deaf groups around the world.
The United States has its National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD)
(http://www.ntd.org), based in Chester, Connecticut, and the Deaf West Theatre company in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. In recent years, Deaf West (http://www.deafwest.org) produced a magnificent production, “Big River” that went onto Broadway, New York and launched the career of its lead Deaf actor, Tyrone Giordiano.
Australia’s professional Deaf theatre troupe, the Australian Theatre of the Deaf (ATOD) (http://www.ozdeaftheatre.com), began as an amateur theatre group in Sydney in the 1970s. An important catalyst for the Deaf theatre movement in Australia was the visit of the American National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) in 1974. ATOD is based in Redfern, Sydney, New South Wales. It has a Deaf director and three full-time Deaf actors as well as a General Manager. They tour Australia-wide performing in schools. ATOD also mounts main stage productions periodically.
