The Power of Performance - Dirliebane Theatre Company

Dirliebane Theatre Company is a charity registered in Edinburgh. Dirliebane (the Scots word for funny bone!) creates clown theatre performances for children, young people and their families. In November 2024, Dirliebane recruited a Deaf actor to work on its new BOUNCE project – a fully bilingual BSL/English performance which allowed D/deaf children who use BSL to watch and participate without the need for additional interpretation. Trefoil supported this project with a £2,500 organisational grant.

BOUNCE toured across Scotland with 22 performances. Venues included; ten schools – three of which were schools for the Deaf or had D/deaf hubs; Lothian Children’s Deaf Club; Perth Theatre; The Byre Theatre in St.Andrews; and Rothes Hall in Glenrothes, Fife. 1,350 children, young people, their families and teachers watched performances of BOUNCE.

Not only did Dirliebane’s BOUNCE performance enhance access to the arts in schools, with some children having never accessed theatre before, the audiences’ self-confidence and artistic enjoyment was supported.

Dirliebane Theatre Company reported that it was a wonderful experience to artistically work with a Deaf performer and they learnt a great deal about best practice during the process. Dirliebane plans to carry this knowledge forward and are planning future bilingual productions.

Children and their supporters were delighted with the show:

“Fantastic! My child is deaf and uses a mix of BSL and English, so it was great to see that represented.” (Parent at the Byre)

“Our ASN pupils were engaged. We have a child who can never sit and watch a performance, and she sat for the whole thing and was in fits of laughter” (Glenlee Primary school – partnered with Hamilton School for the Deaf)

“During the performances, it was wonderful to see those children from both communities (deaf & hearing) engaging with both hearing and deaf actors. This work was fully inclusive within rehearsals and for every performance. Deaf children can rarely see any performances that are accessible and this a wonderful showcase of work which could tour repeatedly” (Karen Forbes, BSL interpreter)

Trefoil is keen to support the arts and proud to see the impact Dirliebane has had on D/deaf children and young people.

Applications for organisational grants can be made here.