Offsite9: Out of darkness cometh light
Out of Darkness Cometh Light is a Visual Vernacular (VV) show that follows the Offsite9 themes of healing, care and reparative history. VV is a new theatrical performance that combines elements of mime, facial and bodily expression.
Ish’s VV World (Ishtiaq Hussain), a well-known artist within the Deaf community, has recently celebrated his 10-year anniversary. This project aims to bridge the gap between the Deaf and hearing communities and bring back the Deaf community to Wolverhampton by putting on a VV performance delivered by Ish’s VV World. We caught up with project organiser Omar Haq.
What is VV?
VV is a new, unique theatrical performance that combines elements of mime, facial and bodily expression. It has no grammar or linguistic structure (it is not sign language). VV is a powerful storytelling technique that captures the world in its visual complexity. An artist can use movement to morph into different characters or objects to help build an exciting story of any genre. Similar to the work of Charlie Chaplin, VV has no words, however the artist stays in one spot rather than walking around. This means VV is accessible and can be enjoyed by both hearing and Deaf audiences. Ishtiaq Hussain is performing Out of Darkness Cometh Light. He has over 10 years of experience in the craft and is popular within the Deaf community.
Tell us about Out of Darkness Cometh Light? What does the title mean to you?
Out of Darkness Cometh Light is the City of Wolverhampton’s motto. To me these words relate to struggle, oppression, and new opportunities. The motto also reflects the recent difficulties faced during the pandemic. Many Deaf people were isolated during this time with limited access to entertainment and opportunities to socialise. This had a detrimental effect on the community’s mental health. This project aims to bring the light to this darkness and act as an opportunity for the Deaf community to get back out, socialise and have a good time. Wolverhampton was once a popular hub for the Deaf community, however, with many Deaf clubs being shut down this has dwindled. Furthermore, the Deaf and hearing communities are often segregated. This project aims to bridge the gap between these communities and provide a friendly space for them to interact and mutually enjoy an inclusive, accessible performance. This motto is the title of this project as it represents Offsite9’s overarching themes of healing, care and reparative history. We want to deliver an impactful show that focuses on the cCity of Wolverhampton and the lives of Deaf people.
Can you describe the four stories you will be sharing?
The four VV performances are:
Life of lockdown (drama) - This VV performance will be about the life of Deaf people during the pandemic and various lockdowns, in particular looking at the impact of lockdown. Evolution of technology (comedy) - This will take a light-hearted and comedic approach to changes in technology over time in relation to Deaf people, with a focus on how technology has evolved between the 1920s and 2020s.
Wolverhampton 6 (drama) - A dramatic performance about the well-known protests that took place in 2001 in Wolverhampton for Deaf rights and BSL recognition. 6 people were arrested (1 Hearing, 5 Deaf) known as the Wolverhampton 6. Ishtiaq was one of the Wolverhampton 6.
Wolverhampton history (comedy) – A comedic VV performance that will look at the history of Wolverhampton as a city including the football team and stadium.
What are your hopes for the event?
I hope the event is entertaining, inspirational, and unforgettable. I hope the event reduces isolation within the Deaf community and hope they will be happy to be back in Wolverhampton. Also, I hope that the hearing community enjoy seeing this new style of theatre performance that they may never have come across before. As VV is well known within the Deaf community, I really want to reach out and introduce it to the hearing community. We are in communication with a variety of contacts, including the University of Wolverhampton, with the aim of attracting a diverse audience. It would be fantastic if this project inspired people to take up VV. Individuals will have the opportunity to talk to Ishtiaq if they are interested in taking part in future Ish’s VV World workshops.