BSL in Creative Arts
If you’re looking to make your performance accessible to Deaf audiences, Just Sign can provide you with experienced interpreters who will work with you to develop an interpretation of your show that is both creative and artistic, whilst also faithful to the message of the performance.
Interpreters can work either side-of-stage, or integrated into your show (i.e. the interpreter will be in costume, moving around the stage with the performers to create a more immersive experience for Deaf audiences).
Benefits of working with us
Just Sign has provided interpreters for a variety of productions including plays, musical theatre, and pantomimes, and have worked with companies including National Theatre of Scotland and Traverse Theatre Company, as well as community theatre companies, school productions and student theatre shows.
We have also worked extensively with performers and companies at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Identifying Your Access Aims
We will provide interpreters who have experience in working either side-of-stage, or integrated into the performance, depending on your production. We can also provide live captioning for your show.
Rehearsal and Preparation
Interpreters will work with you through the rehearsal period, using the script and time in the rehearsal room to understand the details and nuances of your production to create an artistic and engaging interpretation for Deaf audiences.
Collaborative working
Our administration team will continue to support you through the whole process and will always be available to answer any questions or offer advice in the lead up to the performance, as well as continuing to support you afterwards.
Interpreted Performances and Tours
Interpreters can be booked for as many performances as you would like through your run and can also work on touring productions and longer runs. Interpreters can also support you to advertise your production to the Deaf community by making a BSL video for your social media channels with details of interpreted performances.
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Customer testimonials
What our customers really think of us.
Name Surname
Name Surname
Customer journey
A typical customer case study journey and what we do and offer.
The opportunity
A Theatre Company approached us for help as they were doing a production and had a Deaf cast member. The cast member would require BSL interpreters within the rehearsal room for 5-6 weeks.
During the rehearsal stage it transpired that the theatre company would require another integrated interpreter for their performance.
What we did
We devised a timetable of interpreters and created a schedule. Our dedicated office staff were available to respond to the production company in relation to any update or changes, which we know can happen at very short notice within theatres. Just Sign staff are very responsive in updating schedules, sourcing interpreters, and accommodating changes where applicable. Interpreters are then notified of the dates and times they would be required.
Another integrated interpreter was identified which led to an integrated interpreter schedule being created to coincide with full cast rehearsals to ensure transition on stage was smooth and the interpreters knew their cues. The integrated interpreter also required time to be scheduled to learn and translate the script.
We also decided to set up a dedicated WhatsApp group between producer, cast member and interpreters.
The outcome
The timetable and subsequent schedule allowed the production team, cast, crew, and interpreters to know who was due to be working on any given day. Having a set team of interpreters allows for continuity, rapport to build between the team and an overall enhanced experience for the Deaf cast member.
The night of the integrated interpreter performance was well rehearsed, and the interpreters had sufficient time to work on the script, learn and translate it into BSL. The show was a great success.
The WhatsApp group allowed interpreters to keep up with what was happening within the rehearsal room, any changes to acts and any specific BSL signs that had been established. The interpreters used this group as a form of handover for the interpreter next on the schedule. The producer and cast member used this group to quickly contact the interpreters and inform them of any change to the daily rehearsal schedule.
BSL / Deaf awareness training sessions
Give your team the confidence they need to communicate with colleagues/peers and customers who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
Why
Deaf awareness sessions aim to increase staff awareness of Deaf issues, people and culture, emphasising positive aspects of Deafness, encouraging social inclusion and raising awareness that supports those who are Deaf.
Improve your communication skills and understand how to make communication accessible.
What we do
Just Sign provides you with a Deaf BSL presenter who will work alongside a BSL/English interpreter to offer you either a 2-hour taster session or a half day/full day session.
We offer bespoke training courses that can be tailored to match your specific communication needs.
Benefit
Your team feel confident in communicating with Deaf BSL users. Therefore, having an increased understanding of the barriers faced on a daily basis by the Deaf community. This allows your team to work more effectively with Deaf BSL users.
This will also result in your Deaf BSL using colleagues and customers feeling you have taken steps towards an inclusive work environment.
Need a Notetaker
Electronic notetakers (ENT) produce a set of notes for people who can’t take their own because they are either lipreading or watching a sign language interpreter. ENT’s can be used within an education or work environment, eg. Meetings, training courses, lectures seminars etc.
ENT’s produce a summary of what is being said, this is not a full verbatim, word for word account, of what’s being said.
Need Access to Work
If you are Deaf or have a Deaf member of staff they can benefit from a Government scheme called Access to Work (ATW). An assessment for eligibility to ATW would be carried out and a grant would be awarded to help pay for any communication support, eg. BSL/English Interpreter, Electronic notetaker etc.
Just Sign has many ATW clients and we can ensure the right support is in place throughout the working day such as support to make phone calls, respond to emails, attend meetings etc.
FAQs
BSL interpreters are trained to translate between British Sign Language (BSL) and spoken or written English in a variety of domains. Interpreters will facilitate communication between Deaf and hearing participants, and work to ensure that everyone understands and can fully participate in the conversation. BSL interpreters are registered with an appropriate registration body. Just Sign interpreters are required to be registered with either Scottish Register of Language Professionals with the Deaf Community (SRLPDC) or National Registers of Communication Professionals with the Deaf and Deafblind Community (NRCPD). All interpreters are required to follow a code of professional conduct, and any information discussed during an interpreted conversation will be treated confidentially by the interpreter. BSL interpreters are expected to act in an impartial manner. It is not the role of an interpreter to offer advice or personal opinions, nor to advocate on behalf of a Deaf person.
Deaf BSL users prefer to use BSL as this is their first language. British Sign Language has a different grammatical structure and is linguistically different from English. Lip-reading is also not an appropriate method of communication as studies have shown that only around 20% to 30% of what is being said can be understood through lip-reading, with the remaining information having to be guessed based on context. Lip-reading is also only a one-way communication method, as the Deaf person may not be able to make themselves understood by the hearing person.
Interpreters will often book work weeks and even months in advance. In recent years, demand for BSL interpreters has increased dramatically, so it is recommended that you request an interpreter as far in advance as possible. Although we will always endeavour to secure interpreters for last-minute requests, we cannot guarantee provision as interpreters may have less availability at short notice. It is important to recognise that interpreters may choose not to work in specific domains, which further limits availability for booking interpreters.
There are several options to get in touch with us and arrange an interpreter. If you would like to speak to our team directly, please call our office on 0345 646 0446. Alternatively, click on the Enquire button at the top of the page, which will take you to a Contact form on our website to request an interpreter. In this form you will be asked to provide details about your appointment/event, including date, time, duration, and details of what the event is about, as well as your contact information. Please be aware that submitting this form is only a request for us to begin the process of securing an interpreter. It does not guarantee that an interpreter has been booked.
Once we have an interpreter secured for the time and date you have requested, we will send an email confirming the booking. If we are unable to secure an interpreter, we will contact you to offer alternative times or dates where an interpreter has indicated that they have availability, if these are suitable to you.
Please contact office@justsign.co.uk immediately to advise of any changes. This may incur a cancellation fee as per our Terms & Conditions, which are detailed within our confirmation letter.
Still have questions?
Check out our FAQ page for all our FAQs
Contact us
We'd love to hear from you
1 Haypark Business Centre
Marchmont Avenue
Polmont
FK2 0NZ