British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters work with theatres to bring the magic of theatre to all audiences by interpreting spoken English, songs and music and more into BSL, giving access to all aspects of a show.

So, what does a day in the life of a live interpreter look like? How do we help make events more accessible?

Theatre Interpreting: How Does It Work?

A theatre interpreter is skilled in accurately translating spoken words and songs from shows into BSL. A key part of this is the ability to portray each character’s personality, emotions, behaviours, and general ambience as each scene unfolds. We interpret every spoken line of a performance. Skilled and agile, we communicate every line of dialogue accurately, including live songs!

The way the interpreter portrays a pantomime differs from that of a musical, which differs again from that of a Shakespeare play; you wouldn’t want to watch an actor portray Hamlet in the style of a pantomime dame (although that might be a thing, who knows!) The same applies to interpreters, who embody each character and adapt their style accordingly. They make subtle adjustments to our posture, body language, and facial expressions to help portray each character effectively.

What does an Interpreter do to translate a performance into BSL?

The hard work starts way before the performance date. A theatre interpreter must first become acquainted with the show; they will request a copy of the script to work from, learn about the characters, and become familiar with each scene’s lines and atmosphere. All songs must be learned and practised until a true and meaningful interpretation is created, as well as matching the performer’s speed, rhythm, and emotion. The interpretation becomes a performance of its own! 

The interpreter will watch the performance (recorded or live) numerous times to ensure they can embody the show’s ambience. They can also take this opportunity to think about positioning, lighting, and their safety. We don’t want our interpreters in the fire of a pyrotechnic explosion, dazzled by a lighting effect, or the audience’s view of the interpreter compromised by a cloud of stage smoke! The interpreters should be positioned where they can be seen and well-lit throughout; collaboration with the performers and technical staff here is crucial. Most importantly, the interpreter should be placed on the stage, as close to the action as possible.

Let the show begin…

Interpreters usually stand near the front of the stage, either on the left or right side; however, we are working towards integrated theatre in which the interpreters are among the actors and become part of the show rather than standing to one side.

Interpreters will usually wear clothing which is in keeping with the show to work towards creating a connected performance, whereby the show and the interpreter become one. This can be great at times if you love shopping but also a challenge if the show has a unique style or costume!

How do you feel just before the start?

Interpreters can get nervous just like actors can. During the final few minutes before curtain-up, most will have their pre-show rituals (although routines is a kinder word to use). They will get ready backstage, preferably in a dressing room, although it has been known to be a toilet or a spare meeting room! Traditionally, interpreters wore either black or a solid colour contrasting their skin. With the move towards more integrated shows, some interpreters (including ours) aim to wear ‘show-appropriate’ clothes to align with the show’s mood and setting.

Some interpreters like to have a moment of silence to centre themselves; others chat away backstage, some drink lots of water, and others religiously apply Vaseline to their lips or check their sound pack to ensure it’s working. Each of us has our own way of preparing ourselves for the fun challenge of interpreting a theatre show!

Then, the moment comes when you are given the cue to go out on stage. The preparation is done, and it’s show time! Being the first person on stage can be nerve-wracking regardless of the size of the theatre, but it is vital to convey the announcements to ensure full access and to be ready for the opening. Once the show starts, there is no stopping until the interval (if there is one), or it’s straight through to the end! The event is live, and as the saying goes, ‘the show must go on!’ 

The unexpected whilst interpreting a show

As was said above, ‘the show must go on’, and live theatre is what it says on the tin: it is LIVE! Things happen and throw up different challenges. Here are a few honest thoughts, shares or experiences our interpreters have had when interpreting shows: 

• “AH, why is everyone staring at me? OOOO, ya, I’m the only one on stage.”
• When you remember that the house lights aren’t going down fully for this show, you can see the whites of all 1,300 audience members’ eyes.
• “I need a wee; I need a wee, I REALLY NEED A WEE!”
• Catching a glimpse of actors on the stage side, waiting to see how you manage the fastest song in the show.
• Script changes, act jumping or adlibs.
• Set not coming in/going out early or falling apart (unbeknown to the audience)
• You need to itch a part of your body but cannot find a way to do it to match the show or characters.
• Earpieces lose connection, so no sound is heard.

What do the Interpreters say?

‘Nothing beats the feeling at the end of a show, knowing that all your hard work has paid off and that you have made theatre a more accessible and enjoyable experience for deaf people.’ 

‘That is why we do it. Not for the accolade or the bow at the end, although it is lovely to be acknowledged by the cast and audience!’

‘Being able to make theatre and performances accessible is unbelievably important to me; giving people the opportunity to hate, love or be indifferent to a performance is the goal, the opportunity to find what they like is the key’

Complete Communication and Theatre

Theatre is captivating, and it should be accessible to everyone. At Complete Communication and across The Inclusivity Group, we are passionate about accessible performances and firmly believe that theatre is enchanting; our mission is to improve its accessibility. We frequently work with touring, large and small professional and amateur groups to provide accessible events and will continue to share our ethos, values and access style. You can find a list of our upcoming events here.

Additionally, if you would like to book our event access services for your event, you can click here to learn more or contact our sister company, Complete Communication, directly. You can call 01752289776 or write to us at contactus@completecommsltd.com.