The Theatre Interpreter initiative is enabling deaf to visit regular theatre performances on the stages of the biggest Slovene theatres, that were until now exclusively available only to the hearing public. Sign language experts and actors in one interpret the storylines and dialogs into Slovene sign language directly from the stage – thus making it possible for the deaf to have a unique experience of watching the plays together with the hearing audience. The Theatre Interpreter initiative received honorary support of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr. Borut Pahor, who is strongly aware of the immense importance of true integration of the deaf into society.
In the first part of the initiative the plays interpreted in Slovene sign language attracted more than 10% of all deaf people in Slovenia in just under a month. Amongst them, the youngest were able to enjoy a puppet play The Spotty Ball in Ljubljana Puppet Theatre; other participating theatres in the initiative were The Anton Podbevšek Theatre Novo mesto with a play The Masochist, Prešeren Theatre Kranj with a play Party for Boris and SNG Nova Gorica with a cabaret play The Realists. The creators of the initiative are already planning new interpreted plays in the upcoming theatre season as well as striving to put the interpreters on stages of Slovene theatres on permanent basis.
All that deaf people in Slovenia want is to be equally included in the world of the hearing. Thus, an important aspect of the Theatre Interpreter initiative is the fact that it doesn’t offer plays created especially for the deaf, but rather plays from the regular repertoire of the Slovene theatres.
The grammar of the sign language is substantially different from that of the spoken one in the same geographical area. That is why solutions in the form of subtitles are not optimal for the deaf. The sign language is independent from the spoken one and it develops within the deaf community, an important aspect that had to be considered while preparing the interpreters for the plays. The key role in this process had the first deaf director for theatre and film in Slovenia, Lada Lištvanova, who was preparing and coaching the interpreters for their sign language interpretation on stage: »Working with interpreters was an unforgettable experience. Our main goal was to adapt the spoken word into sign language in a way that the deaf would understand. We were training individually and, in a group, giving advice to one another and working on details. My deepest respect for all interpreters for their hard work in this project! I believe that also the deaf will recognize their dedication and the quality of their work.«
NLB bank, the supporter of The Theatre Interpreter initiative, is already planning to introduce services that will facilitate the deaf in managing their basic bank operations. A workshop on financial literacy for the deaf will also be organized. »We are the only bank in Slovenia where clients can perform basic bank operations and get a piece a of long-distance advice with just one video call 365 days a year and 24 hours a day from wherever they are. With the help of interpreters, we will make this service available also to the deaf because we want them to be equally included in the world of the hearing,” explained Andrej Krajner, Communications Director at NLB, d.d.
The impressions of deaf visitors and participants are incredible!
“When I saw the play, the experience excited and surprised me. I had no idea theatre is so attractive to me! Visual effects are extremely important – the colours, the lights, their facial expressions, the emotions. I wish for more plays like this.” – Gašper Rems, deaf, about the play Party for Boris
“I think the Theatre Interpreter initiative is an extraordinary idea. With a small intervention it enables the deaf to enjoy the culture. I find it only right that with the Theatre Interpreter initiative we make it possible for the deaf to see the performances.”- Nejc Gazvoda, the director of The Masochist
“Experiencing Puppet theatre as well as the stories and messages we deliver, is important for all growing children and with this initiative we gain another part of this precious audience, to give it some of the wealth we are creating here.” – Uroš Korenčan, the director of Ljubljana Puppet theatre
“Today was my first time interpreting on stage and I felt great. The initiative is very precious because the deaf are also great lovers of culture. Including them in social and cultural activities is really important.” – Karin Brumen, the interpreter of the play The Realists
“Today’s experience of seeing and feeling how the deaf audience follows the play, I think for them it is an expansion – a beautiful and rich expansion of their world.” – Darja Reichman, actress in a play Party for Boris
Sign language on its way to becoming one of the official languages in Slovenia
In November 2018 The Slovene Association of the deaf and hearing impaired has put an official request to the Slovene government to amend the constitution and give the sign language the status of one of the official languages in Slovenia. In April 2019 the government approved the motion, which means Slovenia is soon to become the fifth European state with sign language written it its constitution.
Authors of the project
Respresentative of the initiative: Gorazd Orešnik and Tine Jenko, Ljubljana Association of the deaf and hearing impaired
Respresentative of the initiative’s advocate: Andrej Krajner and Ana Herman, NLB
Theatre Interpreters: Karin Brumen, Nataša Kordiš, Natalija Spark, Martin Klepec
Special coach of the Interpreters and director: Lada Lištvanova, Ljubljana Association of the deaf and hearing impaired
Idea Creation: Grey Ljubljana
Executive Creative Director: Petra Krulc
Creative Directors and Copywriters: Katja Petrin Dornik, Petra Krulc, Luka Bajs
Art Director: Matija Primc
Strategic Director: Špela Žorž
Director of the Project lead team: Dunja Budair Prelog
Project lead: Teja Rajšp in Špela Vuga
Strategy and Management of Social media content: Monika Habjanič (Grey Ljubljana) in Ajda Silič Žemva (NLB)
Content Manager: Sabrina Slak
Designers: Hana Domijan, Andraž Grulja, Urška Kos
PR agency: Taktik
Production (Video and Photography): Studio Multipraktik
Website production: Belak
