Pe Limbile Noastre
In Our Languages

Author(s): Radu Apostol, Mihaela Michailov
Subject(s): Theatre, Dance, Performing Arts, Language and Literature Studies, Fine Arts / Performing Arts
Published by: Asociatia Culturala REPLIKA
Keywords: Deaf culture; Romanian Sign Language (LSR); Integrated theatre; Co-creation; Artistic research; Representation; Accessibility; Theatrical methodologies; Participatory documentation; Bilingual performance
Summary/Abstract: This chapter examines a two-year artistic research project developed by the Replika Educational Theatre Center, focused on Deaf and hard-of-hearing young people and the creation of the bilingual theatre production Pe limba ta. Combining participatory documentation, situated pedagogy, and co-creation, the authors describe how the rehearsal room became a space of linguistic negotiation, cultural translation, and ethical reflection on representation. The chapter details the process of adapting theatrical methodologies—Brecht’s Gestus, Chekhov’s psychological gesture, and Stanislavski’s tools—to the visual-kinesthetic logic of Romanian Sign Language (LSR). It also highlights the challenges of translating concepts without existing LSR equivalents, leading to collaborative sign creation with Deaf performers. Through historical context (e.g., the case of Nicaraguan Sign Language), reflections on “nothing about us without us,” and practical experimentation without an onstage interpreter, the authors argue that integrated theatre can generate new aesthetic forms while supporting cultural visibility. The chapter concludes by emphasizing patience, attentiveness, and ethical responsibility as foundations for inclusive artistic practice.

• Details
• Contents