Scotland's first deaf youth theatre will be launched in January, under the patronage of Kate Dickie.
The Bafta-winning actress was in Glasgow yesterday to invite young people to take part in the new company's forthcoming workshops, which will offer training in acting, production and technical roles.
The new company will employ established deaf actors to deliver workshops where deaf youngsters will be taught theatre "in their own language". The aim is to inspire young people to pursue a career in theatre and to bridge the gap to professional theatre training.
The youth theatre has been established by Solar Bear, a Glasgow-based theatre company with a track-record for producing programmes for deaf and hearing audiences.
Having been awarded a £106,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund, Solar Bear will collaborate with national deaf organisations to create the company.
The first workshops will be open to all young deaf people aged 12-17. This will be expanded to 12 to 21-year-olds, when the first year-round programme begins in autumn next year.
Ms Dickie yesterday issued an open invitation to the launch night, to be held at Scottish Youth Theatre's Glasgow headquarters, on January 10.
She said: "This is a cracking opportunity for young deaf people - a chance to be part of a fully-fledged theatre company, rather than just attend a one-off workshop and then go away.
"I think that's a very important distinction. I grew up in a small village where there were no actors, so it wasn't until I joined a youth theatre company that I realised I could actually become an actress.
"This company will give young deaf people a chance to widen their social circle. It is an important step towards fully inclusive theatre."
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