By Angelica Scarante
Never in my life would I have thought that a ‘simple‘ project like this one could change me so deeply. However, it handed me something I initially lacked when I first arrived in Bulgaria: initiative.
So, instead of staying in the shadows, I challenged myself to start a conversation with as many people as possible. Keeping up this practice eventually led to a wonderful conversation with someone who suggested that I try, and put myself in the shoes of the very people the project is trying to reach. And while being a foreigner already ticked one box on the checklist, I am not part of the d/Deaf community. To broaden my perspective even further, I went to a show with the goal of discovering whether it could truly be accessible to a blind person.
As usual - and now even more than ever - my opinion may differ from the experience of others, but I hope you find this reflection useful regardless.
Show 1: Bodies of Power
Status: deaf
How: using sound-proof headphones
Is it accessible? [High (accessible) | Medium | Low (not accessible)]
I definitely understood a bit more of it this time, since it was performed in English for the Antistatic Festival. However, I was only able to grasp it’s core meaning through text, as there were a few written parts that I was able to translate on this occasion.
The rest of the performance was engaging and decipherable through synchronized choreography and robotic movements, as well as through a cheerful intermission and the performer-audience interaction that occurred throughout the play. Nevertheless, without the chance to hear the intonation of the spoken parts and missing what was said through the speaker, I could not mark the production as fully accessible - but it did come close.
Show 2: Happy Together | Unhappy Together
Status: blind
How: blindfolded
Is it accessible? [High (accessible) | Medium | Low (not accessible)]
I must admit this production is admittedly one of my absolute favorites out of all the ones I’ve seen, and experiencing it this way made me appreciate it even more. It’s mesmerizing simplicity is felt not only through the choreography but also through the script, which is nothing less than a narrated description of what is happening on stage. This brilliant feature is precisely what makes it accessible to someone who’s blind as well.
The aroma of the brownies filled the air, and when I ate one at the end of the show this time, I savored it so much more, knowing the story of why and how it was baked.