SOUND OFF is back in Edmonton for its 6th year! This national Canadian festival celebrates the talents and stories of Deaf performers across the country. It’s the only festival of its kind in North America. Deaf and hearing audiences alike can take in the stories of Deaf performers and the beauty of American Sign Language at the ATB Financial Arts Barns. The goal? To entertain and make theatre accessible for everyone.
The festival is excited to return live and in person this Wednesday. For those who wish to stay in the comfort of their own homes, there are a range of online performances that you can attend. This year brings four mainstage shows, various workshops, salon discussions, staged readings, and improv—something for everyone to enjoy.
All performances are accessible for both Deaf and hearing folks as most shows are in American Sign Language (ASL). There are also interpretations provided where necessary. The venue is wheelchair and scooter accessible, and hearing loops are available. SOUND OFF also promotes financial accessibility through free events and Pay-What-You-Can tickets.
Featured Performances and Events
The mainstage performances feature productions from Alberta and Ontario and a special guest from Quebec, the Awakened Eye. The Awakened Eye will perform “Myth of the Rare Hand” (le mythe de la main rare) and will be the first mainstage production at the festival to perform in Quebec Sign Language (LSQ). This play, inspired by the tale of Cinderella, tells the story of the Deaf through the years. Cinderella’s shoe is replaced by “the golden hand” to symbolize the importance of hands for Deaf people. Ultimately, the story shows how Deaf people have broken down barriers over the years and have experienced the changing landscape of accessibility with the evolution of technology. Other mainstage shows include Mundane Mysteries, Indian Folk Tales, and Theatresports: Sound Off Edition.
There are also various workshops to attend. For example, “Vibrotactility as Access in the Arts” with David Bobier helps you explore sound and music in other sensory ways. It explores the potential of vibration and sound visualization. The complete list of workshops is available online.
The Salon Series features discussion panels on various topics like the impact of COVID-19 on Deaf performing artists and the experiences of Deaf BIPOC Artists within their communities.
Finally, SOUND OFF and Edmonton’s Rapid Fire Theatre have teamed up for the 6th year to bring you “Maestro: SOUND OFF Edition” which pins performers against each other for a hilarious battle of improv supremacy. In this show, language (signs and speech) is forbidden. It runs for one day only, on March 31, so don’t miss out on the laughter! Pay-What-You-Can tickets are available online.
Celebrate the stories of Deaf performing artists with the SOUND OFF Festival from March 30–April 3 at the ATB Financial Arts Barns in Edmonton. For more information on events and schedules, check out their website.
