TYPE OF WORK
Participatory visual theatre workshops and performance using gesture, mime, movement, facial expression, body language, dance and minimal use of sign language or spoken language

TARGET GROUPS
Deaf and hearing, youth and adults, in urban and rural settings

GEOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT
UK, North Africa and Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia/New Zealand

COMPANY POLICY
To embrace, empower, educate and entertain, deaf and hearing youth and adults equally via the arts. The language of gesture is embraced to break down language barriers.

Honeybee Theatre has broad experience in delivering ACD training to professional artists and non-arts professionals. Lisa Mills, artistic director and founder of Honeybee Theatre, is an Australian deaf woman fluent in spoken English language and British/Australian sign language.

SCALE OF PROJECTS
Number of practitioners: 5
Number of participants: 30
Preparation time: 1–2 weeks
Contact time: 2–4 weeks

PERMANENT STAFF
Lisa Mills, Artistic Director

Rhythm of Hands (Uganda, 2001)
A four-week project at the Uganda School for the Deaf introducing the arts (drama, dance and visual art) to 200 deaf children, teaching new skills to participants and teachers, and providing further deaf-awareness in Uganda.

All workshops were based on the theme of ‘friendship’ and were led by Lisa Mills with a dancer, a visual artist and an actor. Issues include: conflict, child abductions, rebels, theft, daily life and the role of Ugandan women, men and children. All workshops culminated in an innovative outdoor arts performance for local deaf and hearing Ugandans.

The deaf students felt empowered and the project contributed to changing perceptions of deaf Ugandans’ contribution to Ugandan cultural life and their potential to integrate with hearing people in society equally.

Partner: British Council

Deaf Theatre Resource Pack
The world’s first deaf theatre resource pack will be a hands-on kit providing expert tips and instructions on how to lead your very own visual theatre workshops/projects. The philosophy behind all content of this pack is making theatre accessible to deaf and hearing equally. (2004)

Deaf Theatre Training (UK, 2004)
Specialist staff training in arts activities with young deaf children for The National Deaf Children’s Society. (London, UK, 2004)