Abigail Gorman on being part of Deafinitely Theatre’s The Vagina Monologues (BSL)

I’m Abigail Gorman, and I’m one of the actors in the production of The Vagina Monologues by Deafinitely Theatre.

Watch Abigail sign her article below, or scroll down to read in English!

I studied performing arts when I was younger and I’ve always had a deep passion for the arts, whether it’s theatre, literature, or film. Art gives us the opportunity to explore human experiences, confront social issues, and challenge societal norms.

It opens up space for people to reflect and engage in ways that feel personal and accessible, without relying on formal politics.

As Deaf people, we face systemic barriers every day, especially in accessing information about health, identity, or justice. I wanted to be part of this production to ensure that Deaf audiences can engage with these powerful topics in their own language.

It’s about making space for us, informing and empowering us, and celebrating the diversity and complexity of womanhood.

The Vagina Monologues, written by V Ensler in 1996, is based on interviews with over 200 women. It shares stories about sex, relationships, consent, body image, menstruation, genital mutilation, reproductive rights, and violence – told through the voices of women from many different backgrounds and identities.

But more than that, The Vagina Monologues is a challenge to the idea that we must be silent. That we must be submissive. That we should shrink ourselves to fit the mould sold to us by the media – the ‘perfect’ body, the ‘perfect’ life, the ‘perfect’ timeline.

We’re told to follow a path – to look a certain way, behave a certain way, hit traditional milestones like marriage and motherhood – without ever being asked what we want.

Do we have to do all that? No. And that’s what this performance is about. It reminds us that our bodies are ours. Our lives are ours. And that deserves respect and value.

The play originally began as a celebration of vaginas and femininity, but it has become part of a global movement to end violence against women and to reclaim autonomy, choice, and visibility.

These conversations are still seen as taboo today – more so in the Deaf community. We are often denied access to sexual health education, public health information, and open discussions about our bodies.

These are rarely made accessible in sign language. That lack of access puts Deaf people at serious risk – we’re left out of critical conversations, denied agency, and made invisible.

This production breaks that silence. It offers Deaf women the chance to engage with these stories in their own language. It reflects their experiences. It offers power, connection, and visibility. It unapologetically says that we are not here to be silenced, that our bodies are ours and that must be respected.

There are ten Deaf performers. We represent a wide range of backgrounds, ages, and identities. Six of us performed in the original Deaf production of The Vagina Monologues, and four are joining for the first time this year. It’s a brilliant, diverse group, and every performer brings something unique to the stage!

Most productions of The Vagina Monologues are performed by hearing actors using spoken language. What makes ours so unique is that it’s entirely performed by Deaf actors in BSL. That transforms not only how the stories are told, but how they’re felt.

BSL is a visual and physical language. It doesn’t just translate words – it expresses tone, emotion, rhythm, and meaning through facial expression, body movement, space, and timing. So when you experience these monologues in BSL, you’re not just listening to a story – you’re seeing it, feeling it, living it with us.

This isn’t a translated version of a hearing show. This is a reimagined piece that centres Deaf culture and Deaf storytelling. Our performance style draws from a rich tradition of visual narrative – it’s bold, creative, and emotionally honest. It’s also deeply expressive and accessible in a way spoken theatre often isn’t.

BSL theatre naturally pushes boundaries, because we don’t use sound, we think visually. We shape space differently. We create rhythm and intensity through movement, not volume.

Hearing actors focus on projecting their voices – we focus on making sure every sign, gesture, and emotion can be seen and felt from the back row. It’s not just accessible – it’s visceral, poetic, and deeply powerful.

Most importantly, we’re not just being included – we are leading. This is Deaf-led storytelling, in our language, on our terms. That’s what makes this production not only unique, but necessary.

It opens the door to conversations about gender, identity, and autonomy in a way that embraces and centres the Deaf community.

There have definitely been challenges preparing for this as it’s a detailed and demanding process! I can only share from my own experience, and others may prepare differently, but here’s what my preparation involves:

I start by reading the script several times to memorise it. Then I go deeper, unpacking the emotions behind the words, figuring out the character’s motivation, and deciding what message needs to come through to the audience.

After that, I begin translating the piece into BSL and working out the timing. I think about my character – where she’s from, what regional signs she might use, whether she’s confident or uncertain – and I include that in my signing and physicality.

Sometimes the English text doesn’t translate smoothly into BSL, so I spend time breaking it down and finding ways to express complex ideas visually and clearly. Then I adapt the signs to make them more theatrical and artistic – especially so they’re visible and impactful for the audience, even those seated far away.

Just like hearing actors work on voice projection, we work on visual clarity, sign placement, and expression. It’s a lot of work – but it’s so rewarding when it all comes together.

It’ll be amazing to reconnect with the original cast and welcome the new performers. The energy so far has been beautifully positive – everyone’s warm, supportive, and excited to make something powerful together.

The Vagina Monologues by Deafinitely Theatre is touring three venues over three different days. At the time of writing, tickets are still available for the Exeter performance on 15th July and the 3pm showing on the 19th July at the Birmingham Rep. For more information see here.