First ever sign language musical to take to the stage

Acclaimed Krazy Kat Theatre Company is to present the world premiere of the first ever sign language musical for families next month.

Oliver in the Overworld, which is a family show for three to seven year olds, visits Unity Theatre in Liverpool on Saturday May 20.

Created by multi award-winning Artistic Director Kinny Gardner and featuring hand-crafted puppets, captivating song and dance and fully integrated sign language, Oliver In The Overworld tells the surreal, picaresque tale of Freddie, a little deaf boy who travels to The Overworld, The Land of Machinery.

His quest is to seek the mechanical parts to mend the memory of his best friend Oliver the Grandfather Clock. Encountering a rich array of heroes and villains along the way, Freddie is on a mission and no one will stop him.

Freddie’s madcap musical adventure tackles the acceptance of old age, its associated loss of mental facilities and children’s abilities to assist in the resolution of conflict. It is also a colourful celebration of difference in both ability and social background.

The Krazy Kat Theatre Company was established in 1982 by Kinny Gardner and Alastair S Macmillan, as a fully professional touring company, creating innovative and imaginative visual theatre.

Kinny Gardner was a member of ‘The Scottish Mime Theatre’ for many years and is seen by both the Deaf and Hearing communities as a major innovator within visual theatre using Sign Language Arts.

The company specialises in introducing young people and their grown-ups to the delights of live visual theatre, combining mime, dance, song, puppets and sign language. With an emphasis on the highly visual, the work also engages with many audiences whose first language is not English.

The musical lasts 55 minutes and is suitable for ages 3-7 of both deaf and hearing audiences.