VEE-TV treads the boards.

In this week's show, Nikki and Rebecca enjoy a taste of showbiz by heading to the West End in London.

They go backstage to the award-winning musical Guys and Dolls and interview the stars Neil Morrissey and Sally-Ann Triplett.

They also chat to actor Charles Dance who starred in the political drama Exonerated at The Riverside Theatre, Hammersmith.

He has some advice for aspiring Deaf actors wanting to enter the precarious world of acting;" I offer the same advice I would give to a hearing person which is, if you can do something else, do it!"

But Deaf actress Sophie Stone has ignored all the advice about not going on the stage to become the first deaf student at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).

She explains;

"To be the first Deaf person in RADA is very exciting and very shocking. I didn't think I would ever be here. I'm still pinching myself even today. I'd like to see myself in the theatre a lot and maybe in films. I'd like to access areas where lots of Deaf people don't have access – maybe a regular part on TV. It doesn't matter as long as I can prove that deaf people can play hearing roles."

Single mum Sophie says she became interested in acting when she was just six years old.

"I saw it as an escape from my rough neighbourhood and rough life. I just wanted something different. And it has increased my confidence throughout my life. It is the place I like to run away to."

If you love to go to the theatre or would like to try it out for the first time, many theatres have BSL signed performances or captioned performances. Here are a few coming up. And try the Signed Performances In Theatre website for future productions with BSL or Stagetext for captioned performances.

Coming up

The Rocky Horror Show
www.rockyhorror.co.uk
Signed performance of Rocky Horror Show, Opera House, Manchester on Tuesday 13th June at 8pm.
Tickets can be purchased by contacting the Palace Theatre & Opera House, they are £25 concession. Dressing up is very welcome!
Palace Theatre
Oxford Street
Manchester
M1 6FT
Tel: 0161 245 6605

Guys and Dolls
www.guysanddollsthemusical.com
An opportunity to see the award-winning musical with BSL interpreted or captioned
Sign Language Interpreted:
Sat 1 July matinee
Captioned:
Wed 28 June matinee
Thursday 24 August evening
Piccadilly Theatre
16 Denman Street,
London,
W1D 7DY
BOX OFFICE: 0870 060 0123

Mamma Mia
www.mamma-mia.com
The Abba musical in its 7th year.
A signed performance will take place at the Prince of Wales Theatre on Thursday 15 June.

Other shows featured on VEE-TV Performance

The Exonerated
www.theexonerated.co.uk
Political drama about prisoners on Death Row.

Blue Man Group
www.bluemangroup.co.uk
Amazing performance artists with blue faces.

Signed or captioned performances

Signed Performances in Theatre (SPIT)
www.spit.org.uk
SPIT is the leading national body for promoting BSL interpreted performances of mainstream theatre.

STAGETEXT 
www.stagetext.co.uk
Delivers captioned performances through UK.

Arts organizations for deaf and disabled people.

Shape
www.shapearts.org.uk
Aims to improve access to the arts for deaf and disabled people whilst supporting deaf and disabled artists to challenge perceptions and promote Deaf and Disability Culture.

Deafinitely Theatre
www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk
Deafinitely Theatre is a new, radical and visual presence in theatre. Its vision is to become a leading independent company promoting innovative work by new writers and adaptations of classic plays in a language that can be understood by all.

Sophie Stone
www.deaftoday.com/v3/archives /2005/08/being_deaf_hasn.html
Article about Sophie Stone

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)
www.rada.org
The prestigious drama school where Sophie Stone is training.