THEATRESIGN ... theatre interpreting as it should be

Donna Ruane interpreting CHICAGO in London's West End. Production photograph by Catherine Ashmore.

Theatre Interpreting Course
Trainers: Donna Ruane MRSLI & Terry Ruane, Director of Theatresign

Over the last ten years, Theatresign has established a reputation for providing high-quality Sign Language Interpreting to many of the long-running shows in London’s West End. It is this regular provision that makes Theatresign unique and able to give Theatre Interpreters training opportunities that do not exist in other parts of the country.

Theatresign is now offering a series of two-day courses with a workshop format, aimed at professional Interpreters. Participants must have Level 4 in BSL and either be undergoing interpreting level 4 working towards qualification as MRSLI or already be practising as a Registered Qualified Interpreter or ASLI Full Member, and will earn points towards their CPD requirement.

An annual programme of three courses is now offered starting from June each year.
All courses are ASLI approved for CPD:

Theatre Interpreting Introductory Course (June)
Theatre Interpreting for Musicals (October)
Theatre Interpreting for Classical Musicals (March)

Theatre Interpreting for Musicals
Dominion Theatre, Tottenham Court Road, London W1
Friday 22 - Saturday 23 October 2010 10am-4pm
Signed performance: “We Will Rock You” (Friday 7.30pm)

This popular course first established in 2009, is based around the hit Queen Musical “We Will Rock You” and is useful for interpreting the kind of “Jukebox Musical” which tours regionally like Joseph, Grease and High School Musical. Working in The Gallery, an air conditioned rehearsal space at the Dominion Theatre, participants will:

Day 1

Learn the various approaches to interpreting different types of musical and explore areas like
Translation: BSL and lyrics, how to prepare, BSL or SSE? and how to edit effectively..
Set tasks will involve interpreting sections of We Will Rock You both songs and dialogue
In the evening there is an opportunity to visit the stage and auditorium for Setting the Scene
See the show sign language interpreted by Donna Ruane, a trainer and senior interpreter at Theatresign.

Day 2

There will be a discussion on the show and how individuals would interpret it. Learn about effecive self-evaluation
During the day you will work on your task, signing a song and a section of dialogue from the show followed by discussion and feedback from your trainers and the rest of the group.
Later the live show will be relayed into the rehearsal space and each participant will have the opportunity to sign interpret a section of the show. This will be followed by analysis and discussion.

Fully inclusive cost for ASLI members £350 (£325)*
ASLI Full & Associate Members (ASLI Supporter Member rate is not applicable.)
Non-ASLI members £400 (£375)*
*EARLY BIRD BOOKING DISCOUNT - BOOK BY 1ST SEPTEMBER 2010 AND SAVE £25!
Download detailed information and booking form:

NEW!! Introductory Workshop - Level 3+
Training venue: Dominion Theatre, Tottenham Court Road, London W1
Friday 10 September 2010 10am-4pm

In response to recent demand, Theatresign is now developing training for those with skills of Level 3 upwards. This one day workshop is designed to provide an introduction to the various aspects of performance interpreting and is particularly beneficial to those who work in Education – Assembly Interpreting / School Plays or those who are involved with amateur drama or youth drama groups.

The training workshops are being held at the Dominion Theatre in London’s West End where Theatresign is in its seventh year of signed provision for We Will Rock You. You will be working in The Gallery, one of the Theatre’s air conditioned rehearsal rooms where you will learn the various approaches to interpreting different types of performance work and will focus on practical workshops around the topics of preparation, research, translation skills and dilemmas. The various aspects of these workshops will include working with scripts/DVDs, how to use role shift effectively plus characterisation and various ways of working with different translation skills. Practical exercises will be involved and you will be mentored towards presenting a piece of work at the end of the day.

Fully inclusive cost £175
Download detailed information and booking form:

Theatre Interpreting for Classical Musicals
Training venue: Dominion Theatre, Tottenham Court Road, London W1
A new date will be announced for March 2011
based around "The Phantom of the Opera" at Her Majesty's Theatre, London
in association with Cameron Mackintosh Ltd

Following the success of last year's course which was based around Billy Elliot, this new course is designed for interpreting the more classical kind of musical where there is a more traditional structure requiring work on style and characterisation and is useful for those who wish to train in a more advanced area of Theatre Interpreting. The 2011 course will be based aroun "The Phantom of The Opera". Working in The Gallery, an air-conditioned rehearsal space at the Dominion Theatre, participants will:

Day 1

Learn the various approaches to interpreting different types of musical and explore areas like
Translation: Charcaterisation: BSL and lyrics.
Set tasks will involve interpreting sections of a musical,both songs and dialogue.
In the afternoon you will move to the show's Theatre and Guest Trainers from the production will work with you.
See the show sign language interpreted by Paula Cox, a Theatresign Interpreterwho has trained on the course and is Theatresign's Sign Language Interpreter at the Rose Theatre, Kingston..

Day 2

Back at the Dominion Theatre, there will be a discussion on the show and how individuals would interpret it.
During the day you will work on your task, with discussion and feedback from trainers and the rest of the group.
Later each participant will have the opportunity to sign interpret a section of the show. This will be followed by analysis and discussion.

Fully inclusive cost for ASLI members £400 (£375)*
ASLI Full & Associate Members (ASLI Supporter Member rate is not applicable.)
Non-ASLI members £450 (£425)*
*EARLY BIRD BOOKING DISCOUNT - BOOK BY 1ST FEBRUARY 2011 AND SAVE £25!!

Detailed information and booking form will be available from September 2010

Theatre Interpreting Introductory Course
Training venue: Dominion Theatre, Tottenham Court Road, London W1
A new date will be announced for June 2011

This two-day workshop is the first in a series of three weekends and begins by giving an introduction to the basics of Theatre Interpreting, its history, the way different kinds of Theatres operate, and explains the varying genres of Theatre. Other topics include “Can I do this?”, “Who am I doing this for?” and “The Interpreter on Stage”. The afternoon session will include a visit to a West End Theatre for a practical session on “Setting the Scene” and a talk from Andrew Mills, General Manager of the Victoria Palace Group, who has responsibility for three West End Theatres. You will see the signed performance that evening and this will be your practical task for the next day
.
The second day will focus on practical workshops around the topics of preparation, research, translation skills and dilemmas all based around the script of a specific play.The various aspects of these workshops will include working with scripts/DVDs, seeing the show in advance, how to use role shift effectively plus characterisation. Legal and Copyright issues will also be covered and participants will have priority to register for the Musical Theatre Courses later in the year.

Fully inclusive cost for ASLI members £400 (£375)*
ASLI Full & Associate Members (ASLI Supporter Member rate is not applicable.)
Non-ASLI members £450 (£425)*
*EARLY BIRD BOOKING DISCOUNT - BOOK BY 1ST MAY 2011 AND SAVE £25

Detailed information and booking form will be available from September 2010