PAH! Stories showcased four performers from the Deaf community at the Bondi Festival. They revealed interesting, humorous, instructional, motivational and heart-felt stories for one night only on Sunday 2 July 2023. It was an Auslan storytelling event – but was readily accessible to non-signing audience members through two interpreters delivering lines vocally.
PAH! Stories was created by Sam Martin, a freelance creative producer, theatremaker and director. Identifying as queer and Deaf, his art practice explores “the contradicting and intersectionality of identity”, hoping to create discussion and encourage others to do the same. At the end of the night’s show, audience members were engaged in lively discussion.
The four performers were: Danni Wright, Dion Galea, Steve Ripley and Chrisso Quartararo.
Danni Wright inspired a belief in Destiny as she related events of the last decade or so. As a Deaf Queer Vegan woman involved in the film, television, and theatre industry as a director, actor, and accessibility consultant, she inspired with her trials and joys of undertaking international training and living overseas.
Dion Galea, a Deaf Transgender Non-Binary storyteller let the audience in to the beauty of teaching Auslan and lip-reading. Dion put into perspective sign languages and spoken languages. Often the explanations lead to much laughter.
Steve Ripley has a wealth of acting experience, including touring with ‘Children Of A Lesser God’, studying at The National Theatre of the Deaf, and teaching. He revealed stories of being deaf and DeafBlind, extending the knowledge of accessibility and identity issues.
Chrisso Quartararo shared her journey through the hearing to the deaf world. Her challenges and devotion to her young son, Michael, warmed our hearts. Chrisso’s story was the last of the night and ended on a note of love, much to the audience’s delight.
Though the acting conveyed much, interpreters David McGuigan and Claire Wright, allowed hearing / non-signing audience members to further enjoy the stories. The hour length show passed quickly with feelings of warmth and entertainment all round.
To find out about any future shows look up Facebook: PAH Stories.