Artwork (c) Adam Villers 2020
Queer Deaf and disabled characters
The Hinterlands
Lesbian Pirates
Spring Awakening (Deaf West)
There are several companies that have incorporated Deaf and disabled characters into their productions. In particular, Deaf West Theatre in California and Graeae in the UK have pioneered the promotion of Deaf and disabled bodies on stage. Deaf West's production of Spring Awakening on Broadway in 2015 represents both Deaf and disabled characters within the existing narrative, and Natasha Sutton Williams is currently developing Lesbian Pirates, which forefronts queer and disabled characters. Danny Larsen and Michelle Elliott's web-musical The Hinterlands deals with the mental health of its high school protagonist, Paul, and the work of queer artivist Joshua Castille demonstrates the concept of deaf gain in his reinterpretation of musical theatre songs using ASL.