A short film made by Cora Bissett gets amplified into this moving piece of musical theatre, exploring BSL and modes of listening. Joe (the excellent, expressive Jamie Rea) makes bedroom beats; he is deaf and uses powerful speakers and a SubPac to feel the vibrations, silently signing his lyrics. Penniless Glasgow busker Andy (Dylan Wood) ends up back at Joe’s for beers. The two bond over music, but the production’s many moving parts elevate this far higher than a twee story of wannabe stars, and their beautiful, unlikely bromance.
Bissett explores ableism and the divide between the d/Deaf and “hearie” community. Signing is seen as “poor man’s English”, and parallels are drawn with the way Scots language is misunderstood, or met with patronising responses. A protest against the closure of the deaf centre makes a subtle political point about reduced funding for deaf services. In a singalong section, we learn BSL lyrics. BSL is not signed English; it is its own language, where shapes and emotions are drawn in the air, body language and facial expression carry meaning. Set designer Jenny Booth ensures the subtitled and signed play, with songs by KT Tunstall (who grew up with a profoundly deaf brother, and is herself hard of hearing) is accessible for hearing and d/Deaf audiences. An uplifting story about visibility and the invisible, and what it means to really be heard.
The Singer, Traverse Theatre, until 30 August, various times