Fulfilling her dream of a theatre for the deaf

Press, 12 January 1987, Page 14

Fulfilling her dream of a theatre for the deaf

Deafness is one of 'the most Isolating of all handicaps. Imagine being shut in a world of meaningless sounds, of even silence: being constantly frustrated at not able to make yourself understood. Blindness or physical disability is easily recognised and responded to. We can all help a blind person cross the street But the deaf person looks completely normal, and hearing aids are now so streamlined they aren’t always apparent. And if we are told someone Is deaf, we shy away from making contact We simply don’t know how. Yet deaf people have the same range of intelligence and ability as everyone else, the same needs for communication, closeness, achievement and fun. Anne Tweedie is a Christchurch woman who has worked selflessly with the deaf for many years. Her 15-year-old daughter, Susan, was born profoundly deaf and attends Van Asch College. Anne is a stalwart of the college, and president of the Sumner Society for Deaf Children. For 12 years Anne has

nurtured the idea of setting up a theatre for the deaf. She claims there are some 19,000 hearing impaired people in Christchurch. Theatre is a long-held interest; she is deputy chairman, chief usher, and social convener of the Court Theatre. Now, Anne’s dreams are finally coming to fruition. Christchurch *is soon to have New Zealand’s only theatre for the deaf. Christopher Doig, director of the Arts Centre, has made available a theatre, rehearsal space, and kitchen in the Arts Centre Tower Block. There, every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Anne and the founding members of her theatre company, meet to perfect their sign language and study plays. At the moment Anne is working with eight people aged from 15 to 60. Five are deaf; the other three have family or friends who are deaf. Only one of the deaf has reasonably intelligible speech. All eight are

’ familiar with the basics of sign language, which, with <X new theatre. The Silent Singers, a group of three hearing impaired women who, with their hearing prompt sign songs to deaf audiences, have also joined the company. The company hopes to present its first production at the end of March. Anne isn’t yet sure what it will be but thinks two or three short plays, with lots of visual interest and humour, would be the most suitable choice. She describes the response to the .scheme as "overwhelming. It’s been just * tremendous. We expect to have between 35 to 40 people involved soon — hopefully one hearing person to every deaf person.” In 1980, Anne took a course in Total Communications, an amalgam of speech, signing, facial expression, writing and body language — then a new concept in New Zealand. She is proficient at sign language and signs to deaf

uJfjmr J-1 rLuu! r*' tteatns for tiie deaf in London and tbe United States, and was very impressed with ? their achievements. As yet,'’ her company has no financial backing, and Anne gives her time free of charge. She also tutors in signing at her home. Both her daughters — Susan, and Christeen, a seventh former at Burnside High this year — are involved in the theatre. Both use sign language. Susan has a talent for mime — bom of the acute observation which deaf people must develop in order to understand the hearing world. Christeen wants to become a teacher of the deaf. Anne would welcome all the support she can get for her new venture. She would like to hear from anyone, hearing or deaf, who wants to become involved in the theatre — acting, working with deaf actors, making masks or whatever. Her phone number is 582-714.

Sexual harassment kit Sexual harassment is a serious problem — not only for its victims but for the workplace. Unchecked, it can cause low staff morale, absenteeism, unnecessary distraction, and cost. To date, the Human Rights Commission, the first body in New Zealand to process complaints of sexual harassment, has received more than 100 formal complaints. One was from’ a man. It has also dealt with hundreds of enquiries. In response to the growing demand for information about sexual harassment — how to prevent it and deal with it — commission staff have prepared an information kit. This contains posters, pamphlets, a guide for employers and information for those setting up sexual harassment programmes. The kit is relevant to everyone — even those doing the harassing. The Sexual Harassment Information Kit is available at a cost of $l7 from the Christchurch Human Rights Commission office, P.O. Box 1578, phone 792015. The price for voluntary organisations is negotiable, and the commission has no objection to reproduction of any of the material in the kit. Women's festival Women heading north for the summer may be interested in a women’s festival to be held at Manga te Whai (commonly known as, Manga whai), two hours drive north of Auckland, on the east coast. The three-day festival, from February 13 to 15, is for all women, from all parts of New Zealand.

Held on land farmed by two women and their children, the event will focus on music, dance, arts and crafts, healing workshops, stalls and "anything else that women want to do.” The Ministry of Women’s Affairs has granted $lOOO to help with festival costs. For information, write to P.O. Box 46-211, Herne Bay, Auckland, or phone Auckland 765-789. Legislation The Government has taken steps to give the public easier access to legislation. A toll-free telephone service means anyone from any part of New Zealand can connect with the Government Printing Office in Wellington to order a copy of any legislation. The number is (04) 733-406. The freepost address for written orders is Government Printing

Office, Legislation Service, Private Bag, Wellington. ’ The printing office will also place weekly advertisements in major newspapers listing new legislation; >. ; Other moves to help us know what’s going on include the re-introduction of a weekly parliamentary bulletin and the faster production of Hansard, the word-by-word, transcripts of Parliamentary proceedings. Compiled by Glenys Walker Items for this column should be sent to Glenys Walker, “Making It Happen,” Home and People Page, “The Press,” Private Bag, Christchurch. Please send a week before publication.