Staff and performers at London’s @sohoplace theatre have been commended online for their response to a heckler who allegedly claimed As You Like It’s inclusion of British Sign Language (BSL) was “discriminating against hearing people” at the weekend.
The West End production, which featured Deaf actors Rose Ayling-Ellis and Gabriella Leon, had its final performances on Saturday, with the interruption reportedly taking place during the last matinee show.
Commenting on the incident on Instagram on Sunday, Rose wrote: “During the matinee yesterday, an angry man in the audience interrupted the show with an entitled rant screaming that we were ‘discriminating against hearing people!’
“He looked at me directly. It was shocking.”
The individual’s comments were made despite every performance being open captioned for all audience members, with display units situated in all four corners of the auditorium.
Rose’s post also featured a video of the cast returning to the stage after the audience member was removed, appearing to show several individuals giving a standing ovation.
According to tweets on Twitter, the individual was dealt with by front of house staff, was booed by other audience members, and was told to “f*** off” by another person in the crowd, which was met with applause.
Rose continued: “In the same audience, a little deaf girl sat in the front row with her parents signing to her. Deaf members of the audience are able to sit wherever they want and whenever they want.
“Hearing people reading the captions, laughing and reacting to our signing on stage, coming into our world and understanding Shakespeare because of this.”
She also noted the BSL interpreted performance, held on Thursday, was attended by 106 deaf people.
“This is why we do accessible theatre,” Rose concluded.
In the comments, fellow cast member Gabriella added: “Power to us!”
@sohoplace has been approached by The Limping Chicken for comment.
Photo: Manuel Harlan.
By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.
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Tim
January 31, 2023
There are Deaf people too afraid to put their lights on, never mind the heating, because of the cost of living crisis, ongoing austerity, welfare cuts and underemployment. They’re going cold and hungry.
A man being rude in a posh Deaf play isn’t a priority. Just FYI.
Doug Paulley
January 31, 2023
It isn’t either:or, is it, though?
The fact that austerity and cost of living crisis is having such a massive effect does not invalidate the impact of anti-Deaf hate.
“Whataboutery” doesn’t help anybody.
Lexie
January 31, 2023
Sadly it is a priority because it is a form of discrimination against us.
This is a teaching moment.
Hartmut
February 2, 2023
I would be helpful to ask the guy who ranted anti-deaf slogan, why he said it. I wish his name and his town of residence will be published.
Since the rant is insane with the possibility that the shouter knew of the insanity. I venture, he was just testing the wild waters.
This incident may create something positive. Hearing people might decide to be more active to counter such discriminatory pronouncements than a workshop on Deaf Awareness.