Deaf Republic, a collection of war poems by Ukrainian-American poet Ilya Kaminsky, has been adapted into a stage production by theatre company Dead Centre. The work, which won multiple awards since its 2019 publication, tells the story of a fictional town under military occupation where inhabitants become deaf in protest after a deaf boy is shot by soldiers.
Co-directors Bush Moukarzel and Ben Kidd were drawn to the piece's blend of fable-like timelessness and urgent commentary on war. Kaminsky, who lost his hearing as a child, incorporates sign language symbols into his text. The adaptation features a mix of spoken English, British Sign Language, Irish Sign Language and creative captioning, performed by deaf and hearing actors.
Deaf poet and actor Zoë McWhinney co-authored the script, using British Sign Language as the primary language for development. She also introduced Visual Vernacular, a performance art combining sign language, mime and theatre, to capture the poetry's rhythm and imagery.
Kaminsky described the original work as a 'fairytale' necessary to speak about both Ukraine and the United States. The production includes aerial performers, live cinema, puppetry and a drone, creating a multi-layered theatrical experience.
