To sing a song to music you cannot hear and with words you have never heard would be next to impossible for most people.
For members of the Independent Theatre of the Deaf, Balmoral, singing in the vacuum of silence has become a regular occurrence.
For the last 15 months the theatre has performed at venues all over Auckland as the Deaf Sign Singers.
Group founder Mrs Dulcie McKie, who is deaf, says the group was formed by the deaf for the hearing.
“The group helps the hearing understand the problems of the deaf, and helps them communicate with the deaf,” says Mrs McKie.
She says it takes a long time for the group to learn a song, usually about two months.
“We mime the words and express them through sign language,” she says. “We make no sound.”
At the same time the group is accompanied by music they cannot hear.
It takes so long for them to learn a song because they must first learn the words then the signs and finally the rhythm.
“Even though we can’t hear the songs we can feel them inside.” Mrs McKie says the singing has been valuable to the group because now when they see music they will know how to use it.
The Deaf Sign Singers have already gained a reputation for giving a rousing performance.
They have also starred on the television programme Stars on Sunday singing the song ‘I Hear your Hand’.
The group is assisted by three hearing prompters who help to remind the singers of words and performances.
Mrs McKie plans to go to Australia in September where she has been invited to attend deaf workshops in Sydney. She says she hopes to visit similar workshops in Melbourne and Hobart.
“After my visit to Australia I hope to bring back some knowledge on how I can improve the theatre,” says Mrs McKie.
Caption under photo: The Independent Theatre of the Deaf, Deaf Sign Singers. (Left to right) front row; Des Powell, Edith Tabrar, Dulcie McKie, Suzanne Ovens, Len Tabrar (centre), back row; Shirley Withers, Sheila Claridges, Josephine Beech.
