Overview
Deaf public speaker Nathan Jesper has arrived at his venue desperately late. As he launches into his speech, he soon realizes that things are not what they seem. Written and performed by Deaf actor Chris Dodd, Deafy is a stand-up/sit-down tragicomedy blending ASL, the spoken word and surtitles, which leads you on an unexpected journey of what it means to belong.
About Chris Dodd
Chris Dodd is an Edmonton-based Deaf performing artist, playwright, accessibility advocate and Governor-General Innovation Award finalist. He is the founder and artistic director of SOUND OFF, Canada’s national theatre festival dedicated to the Deaf performing arts, which recently celebrated its sixth season. Deafy had its premiere at the SummerWorks Performance Festival in 2019 and will be published by Playwrights’ Canada Press in 2022 as part of the anthology, Interdependent Magic: Disability Performance in Canada. Toronto performances include Silent Words at the Tarragon Second Space and the lead role of Alphonse in Ultrasound at Theatre Passe Muraille. Other works include Please Remain Behind the Shield, commissioned by Canadian Stage and SummerWorks as part of their multidisciplinary performance event We Were, We Are, We Will Be. Recent film credits include the principal role of Odin in the upcoming feature film, Finality of Dusk. Dodd holds a degree from the University of Alberta’s drama program. In 2019 he was the recipient of the Guy Laliberté Prize for Innovation and Creative Leadership by the Canada Council for the Arts.
Accessibility Notes
- This performance will be presented with ASL.
- Listen to the Audio Description introductory notes.
- Lines from the play will simultaneously be signed, spoken and displayed in surtitles.
- On Saturday, April 23 only, the show will be presented with live Audio Description. Audio Description equipment is limited and should be reserved in advance to avoid disappointment. Audio Description introductory notes will be given 10 minutes before the performance. Please arrive 20 minutes before showtime to pick up your receiver and earpiece.
- Headphone-based assistive hearing devices are available in the Harbourfront Centre Theatre. Equipment is limited and should also be reserved in advance.
- Volunteers and Harbourfront Centre staff will be available to assist patrons with getting in and out of the theatre and provide Sighted Guide to patrons who require ‘Curb-to-Seat’ support.
- A Large-Text version of the Show Program is available from Front-of-House before the performance.
- The Harbourfront Centre Theatre has wheelchair accessible seating. Please note: the ramp leading up to the HCT is 33” wide. The doorways to the single-stall washrooms in this building are 28.5” wide.
- If you require a wheelchair-accessible seat, an audio description equipment, an assistive hearing device, or require Sighted Guide ‘Curb-to-Seat’ service, please contact the box office by email at tickets@harbourfrontcentre.com or call (416) 973-4000 and choose option 1.
- If you have questions about the access features offered for this event, please contact Accessibility Coordinator Katherine Hale at khale@harbourfrontcentre.com. or (416) 973-4960
Dates & Times
April 22
8pm
60 mins
April 23
6pm
60 mins