Salonica

‘A masterclass in physical theatre’..

‘A poignant story that says so much in so few words..’

‘Absorbingly entertaining..’

An original theatre production exploring a friendship across cultures against the back drop of World War 1. Performed in New Zealand Sign Language, English and Serbian.

In 1916 a great multi-national mass of humanity descended on the ancient city of Salonica. Refugees and soldiers created a vast tented city. Hospital ships lay off in the harbour, as a wall of barbed wire was erected. In the lull in the fighting between Christmas 1916 and Easter 1917, two soldiers strike up an unlikely friendship: a Serbian soldier fresh from mountain combat and a Kiwi sapper, survivor of Gallipoli, who has concealed his Deafness to join up, meet. With no shared language they develop a way of communicating through their everyday joys, sorrows and letters home.

With reportage and story-telling in English, Serbian and New Zealand Sign Language, titles in English and scenes in a specially developed form of Visual Vernacular combining natural sign with mime and physical theatre, this new production plays with inclusivity for both Deaf and hearing audiences.

This piece was developed and toured with support from the University of Waikato and the NZSL Fund.

‘Salonica’ toured in Europe in May 2017, and went on New Zealand tour in 2018.

Performances

  • New Zealand Tour - Christchurch Season

    The Piano: Centre for Music and the Arts.
    1st/ 2nd December, 2017.

  • New Zealand Tour - Wellington Season

    Circa Theatre.
    15th/16th/17th February 2018.

  • New Zealand Tour - Auckland Season

    Q Theatre. Auckland Fringe Festival.
    22nd/23rd/24th February 2018.

  • New Zealand Tour - Hamilton Season

    The Playhouse Theatre. Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts.
    1st/2nd March 2018.

  • UK performances

    The Carriageworks, Leeds 2nd May 2017.
    The Arts Centre, Ormskirk 4th May 2017.
    Z - Arts, Manchester 5th May 2017.

  • Serbia performance

    National Theatre Belgrade 7th May 2017.

  • Montenegro performance

    Tivat 11th May 2017.

Media

Links