Deaf Republic

Review by James

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Poetry isn’t my thing, so it was with some trepidation that I went to Royal Court’s debut production of Deaf Republic, an adaptation of Ilya Kaminsky’s acclaimed poetry about Vasenka, a fictional Ukrainian town faced with military occupation.

Deaf Republic opens a window into the tragic reality of a war that has shaped the lives of Ukrainians and us all. Crucially, the story is delivered through the seldom experienced view of a largely deaf cast, with signing and subtitles masterfully combined.

Deaf child, Petya, unable to follow the orders of an occupying soldier, is executed. The shocked townspeople awake with the ‘infection’ of deafness, and rebel against the oppressive regime. The complexity of communication bleakly drives the narrative forward.

The seven-strong company of Dublin’s Dead Centre – mostly relative newcomers – bursts with talent. The warm affection of new parents Romel Belcher (Alfonso) and Caoimhe Coburn Gray (Sonya) anchor a cast displaying tremendous versatility.

The medium of puppetry theatre is beautifully harnessed alongside mixed media to empower this revolutionary production. The cinematic approach is remarkably effective, with an inventive mix of live film projections, aerial dance, as well as a drone sequence.

Every scene is calibrated to deliver an emotional punch, with plaudits to Set Designer Jeremy Herbert and the impressive scale of his storytelling.

Deaf Republic is a challenging watch as the futile thirst for revenge infects the townspeople ahead of its traumatic denouement at Momma Galya’s club. Such primal portrayals of sexual and physical violence are hard to come by, and writer Zoë McWhinney deserves credit for taking such an unflinching approach.

For all its theatrical achievements, Deaf Republic warrants enormous praise for its successful promotion of deaf theatre and the importance of accessibility. The hearing audience is repeatedly challenged to consider how other productions could - and should - have been adapted to embrace and celebrate accessibility. This is a rare production you’ll regret missing.