Deaf Theatre Mission Statement

The mission of the National Theatre of the Deaf is to present high quality productions through the mixture of spoken word as well as sign language. This theatre’s target audience is the general public (especially those who may not be particularly informed on possible issues faced by the deaf community). In order to carry out their mission statement, this company educates the public to the deaf culture through their productions, employs deaf individuals and those who can hear (creating a cohesive environment for the two cultures to meld), and opens itself up through workshops, teaching experiences, and of course, performances. The theatre is located in two different places within the state of Connecticut, which are New London and West Hartford. New London is a port city, while West Hartford is a suburb close to downtown Hartford. Due to the vast differences between city and suburb life, there are numerous chances to affect a varying audience by having access to both locations. The National Theatre of the Deaf is very unique, as it is both educational for the hearing, and accommodating for the deaf.

The description of such programs can be found under the tab “Curricular Goals” on the theatre’s website. As for interacting with young students, they intend to give lessons providing an appreciation for diversity and the deaf culture. The workshops teach cooperation, creativity, communication skills, pride, respect, positive self-esteem, and so on. They also provide a booklet for schools who book their shows that gives background knowledge on the Deaf culture, so that the students and staff members can have a thoroughly effective experience. The theatre also provides teachers with a book that gives examples of classroom exercises to involve the students before and after the performance, as well as a guide on basic sign