Tim Bray Youth Theatre collaborating with Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education
Award-winning youth theatre company Tim Bray Youth Theatre is collaborating with Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education to create a showcase under the bright lights of the big stage. The difference? The students of Ko Taku Reo will create their own work from inspiration that exists entirely from within Deaf culture.
Professionals from Tim Bray Theatre Company, including director Victoria Abbott (Power Rangers Dino Fury) assisted by Robert Mignault (BSc Psychology, BEd, MA Drama) will work alongside teachers from Ko Taku Reo to establish a skill base that enables the students to take charge of their creativity and put on their own productions in the future. The funding for this project has been provided by Creatives in Schools which is a wellbeing programme by the Ministry of Education in partnership with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatū Taonga and Creative New Zealand.
“We’re so excited to be working with Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education for the second year in a row with this groundbreaking opportunity. The outcomes for the students last year were positive and huge. Since 2004, students from Ko Taku Reo have been attending our NZSL interpreted performances of each of our professional live productions for free thanks to our Gift a Seat™ programme. Now, it’s their turn to again take to the stage with their own unique showcase in their own language with their own stories. When we were first researching for the project we couldn’t find anything else like it.” Tim Bray, QSM – Founder and Artistic Director
Ko Taku Reo is New Zealand’s provider of education services for Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children. It is a tri-lingual, tri-cultural organisation, with both Deaf and hearing staff, and all three languages and cultures are engaged with throughout, from the administration to the classroom. The organisation also reflects the importance of te ao and te reo Māori by being culturally responsive and respecting the preferred learning styles and needs of their students.
“Being Deaf has some barriers to enjoying theatre experiences, this is because they cannot access the lines spoken by the actors or follow the storyline. Tim Bray Theatre Company’s history providing an NZSL interpreter for the performances gives our students full access to a theatrical experience, as well as to the storyline.” Kaori Kobayashi - Ko Taku Reo
Performance:
Ormiston Senior College, 13 April, 2022
For more info on Tim Bray Theatre Company visit: timbray.org.nz
For more info on Ko Taku Reo visit: www.kotakureo.school.nz