THE first Auslan interpreted theatre production to be held on the Border will coincide with the upcoming 2018 Australian Deaf Games later this month.
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The Other Theatre Company will present Butterfly Lounge, which is a wholly locally produced theatre performance.
Butterfly Lounge was written by local playwright Alexander Gibbs and complemented by an original score and lyrics composed by young composer Katja Jorgensen in partnership with Tony Smith.
The interpreters for the Auslan Interpreted Performance of Butterfly Lounge are from Auslan Stage Left, a company that specialises in interpreting theatrical performances for the Australian deaf community.
Auslan Stage Left director Susan Emerson welcomed the collaboration.
“We are looking forward to interpreting the first ever Auslan interpreted theatre production in Albury-Wodonga,” she said.
Set in Chicago on Christmas Eve 1928, Elliot “Lio” Byrne is drowning his sorrows at the Butterfly Lounge, an illegal speakeasy in the most dangerous neighbourhood in town.
The staff know him well: there’s Nancy the waitress, Ernie the bartender, Ralph the pianist and Leroy the doorman.
Unfortunately, someone else in Chicago knows Lio’s in town, a mysterious and powerful gangster by the name of Charlie Drinkwater.
And rumour has it that Drinkwater wants a word with Lio.
As if that’s not bad enough, his wife Maggie, teenage daughter Amy and best friend Cal wouldn’t mind a word with him too: they’d like him to come home to New York.
Australian Deaf Games social program co-ordinator Debra Swann said the deaf community would benefit from the experience.
“We would like to thank The Other Theatre Company for providing an Auslan interpreted theatre performance during the Deaf Games, giving wider access of theatre to the deaf community, athletes, officials, supporters and volunteers,” she said.
Butterfly Lounge director Alexander Gibbs said the theatre audience did not have to understand Auslan to enjoy the Auslan Interpreted Performance of Butterfly Lounge.
“It is really like any standard performance, but with the bonus of Auslan interpreters translating all dialogue, songs and sound effects produced by the actors, musicians,” he said.
Butterfly Lounge – Auslan Interpreted Performance will be held on January 24 from 7.30pm at the Commercial Club Auditorium.
Tickets cost $25 and are available on trybooking.com/book/event?eid=310245 or at the door on the night.