Mary-Jayne Russell de Clifford: Deafinitely Theatre’s play ‘Everyday’ about domestic abuse

As I walked into the theatre at Birmingham Rep, I knew I would walk out with a grateful heart, knowing that this topic is so essential to share as a theatre performance. Educating through the arts is so important and often the best way to spread awareness.

Deafinitely Theatre’s last performance was part of their 20th anniversary season and this time, Paula Garfield the artistic director decided to devise the production by writing, discussing, directing and creating a professional piece of playwriting called, ‘Everyday’.

This production was gathered up from accounts of true stories by deaf non-binary and deaf women detailing their traumatic experiences as victims of domestic abuse. As we all know, the deaf community is very small yet abuse happens everyday. It is this smallness in our community that can make it hard to open up and reach out about what we are going through.

When we have been abused in any form this can in turn make us feel extremely isolated from our own deaf community – a community that we once felt happy and rooted in. Deafinitely Theatre’s performance of Everyday has successfully conveyed the message that people are not alone and it actively encourages survivors to feel comfortable by returning to the community whilst feeling safe to do so.

I was honoured to watch the Research and Development (R&D) of this piece a few months back and I saw how they devised 20 minutes of exploring, creating and empowering piece of stories from the deaf survivors.

When I watched their R&D, the first thing that came to mind was how I believed this production will give each individual a healing journey throughout their inner heart, mind and soul. Paula included a spiritual journey for each of the on stage characters too as it can be really important for everyone to have a spiritual connection whilst they are healing from abuse.

The spiritual energy in the play spread across the room as the story remained centred with a feeling of safety in the space. One of the props – the teapot – was actually one of the key focuses which represented how we pour out to reflect on our past, letting go of our past and moving forward, together.

There were also some light-hearted giggles throughout the show which demonstrated deaf culture and deaf identity clearly. You can also see and enjoy the beauty of British Sign Language, such a naturally a rich language that I feel conveyed the domestic abuse messages more powerfully because it is so visual.

In the full length performance, each characters’ voices, hearts and hands were heard and seen. The stories came from those who felt vulnerable but now felt valuable. The wide range and techniques of abuse from ghosting to sexual abuse in any sort of relationship between families, couples and friends was heard about.

The details described in the play increased gently in the form of descriptive monologues from each character and it was most certainly educational within the safe space. The audience took time to absorb, empathise, ‘chew it in’ and give compassion.

In the end, each of us all felt the same – we all felt no-one deserves to be abused which is why this production is absolutely essential in order to tell any survivors sitting in the audience that they are not alone. I felt especially delighted to see a non-binary person in the show as they are just as equal as women too.

I would like to encourage you to reach out if you are suffering or struggling. ‘Everyday’ is a warm-hearted, safe show.

Please do contact a charity for support if you are one of the survivors or if you are currently struggling. The suffering everyday can stop everyday for you.

A massive well done to Paula’s playwright of this show and the actors was phenomenal. Thank you for devising and touring this production.

Mary-Jayne Russell de Clifford is a professional drama scriptwriter, facilitator, and director, a BSL worship leader and trainer, a BSL story-teller, BSL poet and a mentor. Mary-Jayne has a degree in Theatre Arts, Education, and Deaf Studies. She worked with Deafinitely Theatre, Vamos Theatre, Taking Flight Theatre and currently re-establishing her theatre company, DeDrama (temporary name)

Photography credit: Becky Bailey

SignHealth can help provide support and information for those experiencing domestic abuse. Their website lists all services here. 

National Domestic Abuse Helpline has a BSL Helpline (in partnership with SignVideo) so if any deaf people need advice/support, they can contact the Helpline directly. It is available from 10am – 6pm from Monday to Friday.