The production, scripted and directed by theatre practitioner Anjana Shajahan, features 18 actors – 12 of whom are hearing‑impaired – and will be staged as part of the week‑long celebration of deaf culture that runs from September 21 to 27.
Anjana, a post‑graduate in performing arts now pursuing a Diploma in Indian Sign Language Interpretation (DISLI) at NISH, conceived the play as a “physical theatre using sign language” after becoming fascinated by the expressive possibilities of sign.
Lead roles are performed by the hearing‑impaired students, while four hearing members of Anjana’s DISLI batch support the cast onstage; two additional DISLI students work behind the scenes. The story unfolds at a chaotic wedding reception, exposing family secrets in a style Anjana likens to the “madness at the end of a Priyadarshan movie.”
To make the performance accessible to all, dialogues will be projected on screen, a soundscape will accompany the action, and a song interpretation will be incorporated, acknowledging that some actors can hear loud sounds while others rely on visual cues such as eye contact.
The team faced several hurdles, including limited rehearsal time, initial reluctance from students unfamiliar with theatre, and Anjana’s own limited proficiency in sign language. Support arrived from a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) batchmate and from the institute’s department head, who encouraged the idea of turning the project into a full play for International Deaf Week.
Funding for the production was raised through a modest crowdfunding effort that collected the required ₹20,000 from friends and well‑wishers, allowing the group to cover set, costume and technical costs.