Ad Infinitum return with mini-festival ‘Where You Are’

From October 29 to November 1 Bristol theatre company Ad Infinitum present Where You Are, a free online mini-festival of short films, podcasts, Q&As, talks and discussions exploring themes of freedom, transition, resistance and care. ‘aaa’

Ad Infinitum’s free mini-festival features the premieres of short films from Deaf artists Matthew Gurney and David Ellington alongside shows from their portfolio, and talks, podcasts and Q&As. The online festival is completely free.

Ad Infinitum was commissioned by HOME as part of the first wave of Homemakers commissions in March, resulting in their first-ever film A Small Gathering. The film will be shown for free for the first time in a watch party as part of the festival, and together Ad Infinitum and HOME have extended this invitation to create and share new work to an array of artists and academics. These include three collaborators on Ad Infinitum’s Extraordinary Wall [of Silence]: Matthew Gurney, David Ellington and Dr Paddy Ladd.

In In Search of Deafhood, award-winning author and activist Dr Paddy Ladd shares his investigation of Deaf Culture, history and sign language, examining why it is still under threat, and crucially, how it can benefit humanity at large.

Ad Infinitum’s mini-festival includes a lecture from award-winning author and activist Dr Paddy Ladd, who examines why Deaf Culture is still under threat – and how it can benefit humanity at large. All pics: Ad Infinitum

Matthew Gurney’s film Dr Voxoff’s Sign Language School for Hearing Children has reimagined the world as one where hearing people are in the minority. This dark, acerbic and witty dystopian film draws on experimental theatre and film making, and  takes inspiration from the silent movie genre.

Bristol-based David Ellington’s Liberty is a poignant and political BSL poem told in a new highly visual, poetic and physically realised short film. This filmic poem draws on visual vernacular and BSL to examine what sets us apart, and what unites us.

The festival also features David Ellington’s ‘Liberty’, a poignant and political BSL poem that draws on visual vernacular and BSL to examine what sets us apart, and what unites us

Ad Infinitum will also be premiering three-part podcast Home From Home: Journeys Into Elderly Care and brand new zine which features interviews and personal stories of experiences of the elderly care system. The interviews from up and down the UK feature those whose relatives have experienced care and those working in the care system to paint a picture of how it works – and where it doesn’t work.

These interviews, conducted by co-artistic director Nir Paldi, have been transformed into a listening experience by composer, performer and podcast maker Jennifer Bell, and the zine created by visual artist Naomi Gennery.

From their portfolio, Ad Infinitum are making available their resources from Extraordinary Wall [of Silence], their show charting the history of D/deaf oppression. The extensive resources include books, videos, articles, papers and much more, the sum of all their research into the fascinating and painful history explored in the show.

The company’s show No Kids will also feature, with a reading from across the pond by Philadelphia’s Inis Nua Theatre Company, and a Q&A with Nir and George.

Nir and George said, “We decided to create a new festival. Something we’ve never done before. A festival that could happen no matter what; a digital festival that has content you can enjoy for free, wherever you are; a festival that embraces the precarious situation we all find ourselves in for the foreseeable future.

“What we’re presenting is, approximately, where we are right now, as a company, as artists and freelancers, producers, general managers, interpreters… this is where we are at. While this space we’re building can be quite discombobulating for all it’s newness, it’s also strangely invigorating, inspiring, and it gives us hope.”

Ad Infinitum is an international ensemble based in Bristol, developing new and original theatre. Founded in 2007, Ad Infinitum is led by Co-Artistic Directors, Nir Paldi and George Mann. They create shape-shifting socio-political theatre to provoke, move and inspire through innovative storytelling and bold experimental styles.

Ad Infinitum’s theatre draws upon the power of the body, engages audiences with urgent issues, and ignites passionate debate. Previous shows include No Kids, Translunar Paradise, Odyssey, Bucket List, Light, and Ballad of the Burning Star.

Associate Artists at Bristol Old Vic and The North Wall, their work has won awards at the Edinburgh Fringe (including Spirit of the Fringe and multiple Stage Awards), across the UK (including the Argus Angel Award), and many awards internationally.

Where You Are takes place online from Oct 29-Nov 1. Find out more at ad-infinitum.org/where-you-are

Read more: Press Play: two-week season of new digital performances