Why do you go to the theatre? Is it to hear grand speeches? Perhaps it’s to witness spectacle. Whether your aim is entertainment or education, Dead Centre is going to complicate your experience and expose your complicity.
Deaf Republic, a play blending spoken word, sign language, puppetry, and much more, is breathtakingly complex. Adapted from the poems of Ukrainian American author Ilya Kaminsky by Dead Centre and Sign Language poet Zoë McWhinney, this play is one of a kind.
In turns cruel and comforting to its audience but never careless, writer and director pair Bush Moukarzel and Ben Kidd handle the play’s many difficult themes with grace and gravity. Azusa Ono’s lighting design, Jeremy Herbert’s set design, Mae Leahy’s costume design, and Grant Gee’s video direction are all world-class and cohere wonderfully.
The cast is comprised of a similarly competent and captivating cohort of performers. There are no particular standout performers—so incredibly beautifully choreographed is the performance and each player’s part in it. Deaf Republic runs until 13th September at The Royal Court Theatre with tickets available at https://royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/deaf-republic/.
Reviewer: Kira Daniels
Reviewed: 4th September 2025
North West End UK Rating: