Lots to unpick.

Barrier(s) is a love story, the publicity materials tell me. so.

And yes, it is. A very funny, well told, incredibly engaging love story. And I was invested in the characters right off the bat, from the meet-cute in the kitchen at a party (where you’ll always find me…).

This love story is believable, authentic, has depth and I immediately cared. Right, let’s get into the detail…

Love has no single language. 
Alana and Katie come from different worlds. One is hearing, one is deaf. Together, they navigate the joys and struggles of love, communication and survival in a world that keeps putting up barriers. When the world tries to silence you, how can you hold on to love? 

Written by Eloise Pennycott, directed by Penny Garfield and brought to us by Deafinitely Theatre, Barrier(s) introduces us to journalist Alana (Em Prendergast) who is hearing, school teacher Katie (Zoë McWhinney) who is deaf. Facts that don’t appear to prevent either party from pursuing a romantic interest, facts that inevitably create more than a few clumsy stumbles along the way as they negotiate this ‘barrier’.

(At this point I just want to pledge my desire to see both actors in further productions – please don’t leave me and Manchester hanging.)

Communication issues. A common trope in ‘relationship reality’ shows, a common theme in actual reality, what can be a recurring source of tension in many a relationship.

Alana and Katie are negotiating a literal communication challenge, in that Alana does not sign. Katie does not speak (side note Alexander Graham Bell had let’s say problematic views on this issue – Alana tells Katie this, Katie of course already knows, now I’m telling you this – Google away).

This fact is the source of a lot of humour in the play., for both the character of Katie and the audience. And I think we, the audience, take the cue from the fact that Katie finds Alana’s desperately improvised mimes and hand gestures funny, that it’s safe for us to laugh too.

As the narrative takes us on a journey through relationship milestones – date in a bar (where Alana learns the sign for ‘busy’), a dinner of salad and chocolate to mark their one year anniversary, moving in together, proposal and, here’s the big one, exploration into the world of IVF…all running parallel ,we see the efforts and progression of Alana’s grasp of BSL, taking us from the fail-safe typed texting to free-flowing signed conversation.

And it’s endearing, as we witness Katie’s patience and encouragement, and it’s endearing as we witness Alana’s implied love for Katie portrayed through the drive to break down the communication ‘barrier’ (that word again) between them.

It’s also jarring and difficult at times, for both the characters and for us, the audience, as we bear witness to missteps and clumsy ignorance displayed by Alana at times. Failing to replace Katie’s fire alarm, instead asking a neighbour to stand in to alert her if the alarm goes off, failure to recognise her own ‘privilege’ as a hearing person at times, seemingly and initially deaf (no pun honestly intended) to Katie’s own challenges as she negotiates society.

The play is laced with lessons throughout, as we’re educated on ‘barriers(s)’ faced by deaf people in society. DWP, PiP and fast access to advisers, access to healthcare and appointments, access to non-discriminatory IVF, access to supportive and tailored schooling and education…

Barrier(s) tackles them all, whilst concurrently playing out how these challenges in turn affect a relationship between two people. It is a strength of the production and indeed in the writing and performing, as to how we the audience (or specifically me I guess, as I shouldn’t speak for others), are able to lean into both issues and experiences that transcend disability and are relatable, whilst simultaneously being educated on a world that is outside of our experiences.

I won’t be that person and spoil the ending, but I think it is because I was able to lean into and relate to one of these issues so strongly, that I felt sucker-punched by the final two minutes of Barrier(s). Don’t get me wrong, I completely got the point and the message being driven home, but I’d invested so heavily into the relationship as a relationship and story, that I wanted that aspect to also be seen through to its conclusion.

I guess what I’m saying is it’s testament to how this production framed its education points that I was left a little bereft at the end., so invested in all of it was I.

A moment, although it deserves more on the design and production values of Barrier(s). I loved every aspect.. The dancing graphics, animations and projected backdrops on screens which were charming and effective in taking us between locations and scenes. The background music which was pitched perfectly in providing an ever-present but ongoing non-intrusive complimentary partner to the performances from the actors. And the accessibility as captions on those same screen were present throughout.

Charming, emotional, layered, funny and eye-opening. As a hearing person, I was educated, as a fan of theatre, I was entertained. And you can’t say fairer than that.

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There is still one more opportunity to catch this show at HOME Mcr, the final performance tonight, Saturday 8 November. Head to HOME MCR – Barrier(s) for details and to book tickets.

To read more about the work of Deafinitely Theatre, visit https://www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk/.

Production Photography: Becky Bailey