Thank you to Bristol Old Vic for hosting our recent Elevate taster workshop for deaf and hearing artists, exploring mask, devising and visual vernacular, the performance style rooted in Deaf culture.

We were delighted that the session was led in BSL by deaf artist and Elevate Alumni Ciaran O’Breen, with translation for hearing artists. The room was a mix of deaf and hearing early career artists and we were also joined by the brilliant Adam Bassett, who is bringing his knowledge, skill and playfulness in visual vernacular to the Elevate residency in October this year - its 4 days will be delivered in English and BSL. 

This workshop is the latest in a series of free taster workshops, held across the UK with partner venues, which together form the first section of our Elevate programme for 2026. The taster workshops are open to all early career artists, introducing performers to mask and devising - from these tasters we select a group of artists to take part in a free four-day residency, focussing on mask, devising, physical theatre and visual vernacular. We have already visited the University of York, Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe and Chichester Festival Theatres, with two remaining – our lovely home venue Worcester Theatres on 14th Sept and Liverpool Everyman on October 4th. Spaces are filling up and it is free so please don’t miss out. 

Vamos Theatre’s Creative Producer, Honor Hoskins, was at the workshop and commented. “I love working alongside Ciaran; he is a brilliant actor and facilitator who brings an exceptional energy to the room. It is always exciting when we have deaf and hearing artists exploring in a room together and the group at Bristol Old Vic were fantastic -  the quality of the mask work was excellent.’

For further information about Elevate and the free taster workshops, see our Elevate pages.