Dublin Theatre of the Deaf

"The Ode to Joy Chorus in ISL is a collaboration between Amanda Coogan, with Lianne Quigley and Alvean Jones and the Dublin Theatre of the Deaf and the Centre for Deaf Studies Trinity College, which translates Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ode to Joy chorus into Irish Sign Language (ISL) and reinterprets it through the lens of the Deaf experience. Using ISL as a choreographic language, Coogan, Quigley and Jones have worked with DTD and students from the CDS to produce an aural, visual and immersive feast. We are delighted to present this performance to coincide with Deaf Awareness week.

This revolutionary Symphony is one of the greatest works in the classical music repertoire. A powerful example of conflict between light and darkness, in the 1980s it was adopted as the European Union’s anthem, noting “In the universal language of music, this anthem expresses the European ideals of freedom, peace and solidarity.” It has become known as an anthem of both protest and peace. In this interpretation the performers, all ISL users, call for equality and celebrate diversity and the beauty of their beloved language Irish Sign Language.

The accompanying music is a performance of Symphony No. 9 by the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Brophy, with a specially-formed choir and Irish and European soloists

The Dublin Theatre of the Deaf is the Deaf–led community based Theatre Company producing two plays annually in Irish Sign Language serving the Deaf community nationally. DTD was established over forty years ago and is a stalwart of the Deaf Community in Ireland. It is a voluntary, community-based theatre company consisting of 10 core members with an equal gender balance between women and men. All their company members are ISL users, choosing ISL as their preferred language and identifying as culturally Deaf.

​Amanda Coogan is an internationally recognised and critically acclaimed artist working across media; through live art, performance, photography and video. She is one of the most dynamic and exciting contemporary visual artist’s practising in the arena of performance.

Alvean Jones is very much involved in the Deaf Community, but she is also a writer, and performer. One of the leading lights at the Dublin Theatre of the Deaf, Alvean has taken on roles of actor, director, researcher and writer, over her time with them.

Lianne Quigley is the chairperson of the Dublin Theatre of the Deaf. She is a Deaf activist and one of the leaders for the campaign for the legal recognition of her language, Irish Sign Language, achieved in 2017. Lianne is also chairperson of the Irish Deaf Society; the Deaf-led civil rights campaign and was involved in setting up the Disabled People's Organisation."