Creative access consultant Jonny Cotsen tells us about Bluebelle, a new show by visual theatre company Theatre Re (BSL)

Hi Jonny, can you tell us a bit about you?

I am Jonny Cotsen. I am based in Cardiff, Wales and I work as a freelance creative access consultant.

I am employed at Sherman Theatre as an Agent for Change. I am also a co-artistic director at Papertrail. I am profoundly deaf but I identify myself as bimodal bilingual.

When did your passion for theatre start and what inspired it?

I have always had passion for theatre since I was young. My parents were obsessed with musical theatre and have always gone to West End to watch shows but all the shows we watched were not accessible to me. 

Although I never I really understood the narrative of the story, I really enjoyed watching them visually which really excites me. The lights, the movements, the sets, the space…  All of it was amazing to watch. 

I never acted as an early age as I was told that I was not ‘allowed’ but found passion for it later on when I started to perform and still do. 

I am inspired by companies like Graeae and Bird of Paradise that really think about the aesthetic of access and how it can be interwoven in the show.

Can you tell us more about Theatre Re in general and your role there?

I watched my first Theatre Re show ‘BIRTH’ when at Edinburgh Fringe in 2019. I was actually with Jenny Sealey, (director of Graeae) who invited me to come with her. 

Both of us were so emotionally moved by watching it and the whole thing was non-verbal. It was so powerful. BIRTH was probably the best show I saw when I was at the Fringe and it is still always on mind. 

I got in touch with Guillaume who is the Theatre Director of Theatre Re and we have been in conversations since. I am so grateful to have seen the show and was able to have a relationship with them. 

I have been fortunate to work with them as an access consultant and given advice for their forthcoming shows/training. I also sit on their Advisory Group.

How accessible would you say theatre generally is for deaf/Hoh people? What needs to be improved?

I live and work in Wales and we have seen significant improvements for accessible shows for Deaf/HoH people, which has been great. 

The problem I feel is the lack of communications/marketing, as well as the desire of wanting to put on an accessible show. 

I think venues/touring productions are still unsure as to why they have to do it. It is important to do it to diversify our audience and create a safe space when watching a show.

Can you tell us about the show Bluebelle and how you have contributed to it?

I watched them in rehearsals and worked with them as an access consultant supporting their visual and physical language ensuring the show would be accessible to d/Deaf audiences without the need for BSL interpretation. 

If I am honest it was probably the easiest and the least challenging job I have done because Theatre Re have this warmth and they have embraced thinking about access within their shows.

Why should people go and see Bluebelle, what makes it unique?

Like all of Theatre Re shows, Bluebelle leaves you wanting to see more and awakens your sense of curiosity. I loved watching it. It made me want to see it again.

“What are they performing? What is the mystery?” I left with more questions than answers and I think that is the beauty of this show. I

t is a fairytale with love, loss and hope. These are the kind of shows we should be watching.

What would you like to develop next?

I would love to see a lead deaf performer in one of the Theatre Re’s shows and that would be the dream. That would be my vision and they make exceptionally brilliant work. 

I would also like to write another children’s book as I really enjoyed writing my last one which was called ‘Gwion’s World’ which is about a deaf boy who cannot say his name and navigating a world that is not accessible to him. 

I really enjoyed it and I would love to follow up from Gwion’s World and write more stuff for young audiences.

Finally, do you have any advice for young or budding deaf writers / actors wanting to start a career in the performing arts field? 

Never give up and never feel that you are not good enough. Always ask lots of questions. Always be curious. And it is ok to make mistakes (and accept them.) You will learn from them and you will be better.

Theatre Re are bringing their folktale-inspired production Bluebelle to Sheffield this June. 

The team developed this performance alongside Visual Vernacular and d/Deaf Artists to ensure that d/Deaf audiences would be able to enjoy the production without the need for BSL interpretation.

For more information see: https://www.theatrere.co.uk/diary.html