Prince Hamlet's signing narrator a 'storyteller that reflects the world' around us, director says

At the theatre, you may spot an interpreter at the sidelines their handsmoving fluidly to capture in sign language what the actors are saying on stage.

Toronto playPrince Hamletreinterprets that role on the stage itself.

Director Ravi Jain'svision for one of Shakespeare's most iconic plays will createa space where both hearing and deaf audiences are on similar footing.

"For me, it's really about us expanding our imaginations to have storytellers that reflect the world that I see around me on the stage in front of me."

PrinceHamlet features deaf actress DawnJaniBirley, who playsHoratioand will alsoactas a narrator. While those who are hard of hearingwill experience the production throughBirley'ssigning performance, there will be no interpreter to communicate verbally what she's saying for the rest in the audience.

Other actors do have speaking roles.

Challenging the audience

Both the actress and the director say this accessible play creates an intersection where hearing and deaf audiences can experience the production differently, but equally. The story will also be told through body movement andfacial expression, which will add a richer layer of meaning, the pair say.

Jain said he hopes his casting decisions which also includehaving women play male rolesand vice versa willspark a conversation, even an internal one, with his audience.

Prince Hamlet runs until April 29at The Theatre Centre, located at1115 Queen St W,