Rebecca A Withey: Review of Two Deaf Yorkshiremen in Lockdown

It’s easy to forget the severity of the lockdowns we all experienced in 2020. Every day I walk my dog, we stroll past busy roads, pedestrians and cyclists.

We see bustling shops, people waiting at the bus stop, friends walking home together or calling in at the local coffee house.

It’s a far cry from the eerily quiet walks I went on during the first (and longest) lockdown last year.

Back then, the roads were empty and people out walking kept their distance. Nobody dared walk past a stranger on the same path. Small shops remained shut, with customers having to endure long queues to enter supermarkets.

There were also thousands of people shielding at home, watching the world from their windows. For some of these people, they still live extremely cautiously. For others, they are finally out and about again.

But like I said, it’s easy to forget what a shock to the system it was to adapt to this new way of living.

Two Deaf Yorkshiremen in Lockdown which can seen on the BSL Zone is one way we can all reflect on this time.

Directed by Louis Neethling, Two Deaf Yorkshiremen in Lockdown was written by Charlie Swinbourne as a follow up to the popular Four Deaf Yorkshiremen episodes.

Two brand new Four Deaf Yorkshiremen episodes were actually meant to be shot in the summer of 2020 but due to the restrictions it was decided instead to produce a unique episode that reflected the experience of deaf people through lockdown.

Matthew Kirby and John Smith both star in this one-off episode which sees their two characters communicating online throughout the entire lockdown period.

Matthew Kirby’s character, Tim, is slightly older and not as tech savvy as John Smith’s character, Angus.

Tim has been told he has to shield at home for 12 weeks and it’s down to Angus’ support and online contact that Tim is able to remain connected with the outside world and stay positive.

Throughout the episode there are some lovely references to the light hearted aspects of lockdown; the baking we all took up, the online exercise routines, the NHS doorstep clap and the volunteers that rallied around to deliver essentials and shopping to those who had to isolate.

There are also sad reminders of the difficulties the deaf community faced; the lack of interpreters at live briefings, inaccessible information and the sheer loneliness felt during isolation.

Matthew Kirby and John Smith’s performances are superb, the chemistry between the two is really clear and their knack for relaying entertaining stories in BSL is a joy to watch.

Charlie Swinbourne stated how he intended for the Deaf Yorkshiremen series to have the warmth and humour that he witnessed growing up attending his local Deaf Club and this episode does not disappoint.

Considering that the actors had to film alone at home, applying costume and make-up themselves without the usual physical presence of a crew, it is fair to say the production maintains the professionalism of previous episodes.

I also wouldn’t have guessed that 25 minutes of watching two people chat online could be as engaging as it is. It’s success all comes down to the smooth direction, great writing and brilliant acting.

Without spoiling the end of the episode, I must say I felt quite emotional when it concluded.

There are several special moments between the two characters and I firmly believe the sign of a successful drama is when you believe in the friendship you see on screen. And in this case I truly do.

Two Deaf Yorkshiremen in Lockdown fuses the talents of BSL storytelling into a powerful tale of friendship.

The episode reminds me of how during the first lockdown – in the midst of the panic – we all clung to our virtual methods of communication in order to stay together and feel supported.

It was also during this frightening and incredibly isolating time for many that we realised the importance of our family and our dear friends.

Two Deaf Yorkshiremen in Lockdown is a wonderful reminder of the value of friendship and a great visual resource for all of us when looking back at the pandemic of 2020.

To watch the episode: https://www.bslzone.co.uk/watch/two-deaf-yorkshiremen-in-lockdown

Look out for more episodes of Four Deaf Yorkshiremen coming out soon, where they go on all sorts of adventures! For more information see https://www.bslzone.co.uk/latest/and-then-there-were-four-again

Photo credit: BSL Zone