Presented by Ad Infinitum & Watershed

“In order to appreciate why the concept of Deaf Culture is of such crucial importance … it’s necessary to understand the historical processes that have contributed to its present status.” Dr Paddy Ladd.

Join award-winning author and activist Dr Paddy Ladd as he shares his investigation of Deaf Culture, history and sign language, examining why it is still under threat, and crucially, how it can benefit humanity at large. Told through the community's own perspective, Dr Paddy Ladd discusses the concept of Deaf Culture and the contribution it’s made both to academic disciplines, and human lives in general.

About Dr Paddy Ladd

Dr Paddy Ladd, author of Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood, was lecturer and MSc co-ordinator at the Centre for Deaf Studies at the University of Bristol. He completed his PhD in Deaf Culture at Bristol University in 1998 and has written, edited and contributed to numerous publications in the field. Both his writings and his Deaf activism have received international recognition, and in 1998 he was awarded the Deaf Lifetime Achievement Award by the Federation of Deaf People, for activities which have extended the possibilities for Deaf communities both in the UK and worldwide.

Please note: The lecture will be in BSL (British Sign Language) and interpreted into English with live subtitling.

Don’t miss Ad Infinitum’s Extraordinary Wall of Silence at Bristol Old Vic in October

Sat 5 – Sat 19 Oct

Helen, Alan and Graham are told they are impaired and need fixing. As they begin to question the world around them, three powerful coming-of-age stories unfold, uniting in a struggle against violence, ignorance and oppression.

Connected through a shared past, they are transported to one pivotal moment in 1880 when a dangerous ideology was born: one that would impair the way the world views D/deaf people for over a century.

Ad Infinitum combine the company’s signature style of physical storytelling with the beauty of British Sign Language in an unmissable feast for the senses. Extraordinary Wall of Silence is a bilingual performance in English and BSL. Tickets: From £13.00 Ages 14+

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