New company Fuse Theatre launches with tour of hit show FOLLOW THE SIGNS
Photo credit: Phoebe Capewell
Dancer/choreographer Chris Fonseca, director Harry Jardine and producer Sian Weeding have announced their brand-new company Fuse Theatre, a CIC seeking to create innovative and groundbreaking British Sign Language (BSL) led accessible and inclusive theatre.
The company launches with the announcement of its inaugural production, the tour and London run of hit show, Follow the Signs.
Fuse Theatre’s Co-Artistic Directors Chris Fonseca and Harry Jardine and Creative Director Sian Weeding first collaborated on the original production of Follow the Signs, initially developed during lockdown and premiering to acclaim at Soho Theatre in August 2022. Alongside this 2024 London run and tour of Follow the Signs, Fuse Theatre’s activity includes A Night In Sign cabaret events showcasing the UK’s most exciting high profile and emerging Deaf and Hard of Hearing talent, and an R&D with the Bush Theatre, which they will continue to develop later this year.
A fully BSL-led hip-hop gig theatre show, Follow the Signs is performed through BSL, rap, spoken English, movement, and creative captioning, to be shared and celebrated by Deaf and hearing audiences together. It tells the story of acclaimed dancer and choreographer Chris Fonseca: from infanthood when he lost his hearing after contracting meningitis, through a school system unable to value his differences, into teenage years where music and dance entered his life, to meeting Raffie Julien, a mixed-race Deaf woman whose lived experience seemingly couldn’t be more different.
Once upon a time there was a boy from down the road
He contracted meningitis at the age of two years old
His life had been ok but now little did he know
His hearing was to leave him and was due to change his world.
You heard of the 5 elements of hip hop right? Emceeing, deejaying, breakin’, graffiti and beatboxing. Well now it’s time to introduce you to the 5 elements of Raffie. I’m half black, half white. I’m oral and I sign. On top of that, I’m a woman.
Chris Fonseca performs in Follow the Signs alongside the show’s co-writer and director Harry Jardine, with Raphaella Julien and new cast member to be announced.
The tour will visit Tobacco Factory Theatres, Bristol from 4 – 7 September; Leeds Playhouse from 12 – 14 September; Soho Theatre, London from 24 September – 12 October; and HOME Manchester from 5 – 9 November.