Role Shift

What happens when separate worlds collide in a fascinating new way

Role Shift by Lesley Hart is a funny and feisty new show that turns the spotlight on the role of the sign language interpreter in a gender bending, toe swap comedy about the struggle to live with and without other people – and what it really means to be ‘me’.

This is the first co-production between Birds of Paradise and Òran Mór’s famous A Play, A Pie and A Pint. The show will be directed by one of Birds of Paradise’s Artistic Directors Garry Robson.

Written by Lesley Hart
Directed by Garry Robson

The Team Tour Dates Reviews Photos & Videos Blog Posts

Inspired by the principle of “role shift” in British Sign Language, Role Shift is a slightly naughty but honest look at the role of a sign language interpreter and what happens when separate worlds collide in a fascinating new way. Carrie is dutifully doing her job as a sign language interpreter but when she gets drawn into the action she disrupts the world of the play from a boy meets girl love story into something very different, magical and strange.

We are thrilled to announce our cast; Carrie will be played by Natalie MacDonald (SASLI, Graeae, Random Accomplice, Ramesh Meyyappan), Louise McCarthy (National Theatre of Scotland, BBC Scotland, Mamma Mia, London) will be playing Bernie and Robert Softley Gale will be playing Ally (BBC TV, the arches, National Theatre of Scotland).

All performances integrate audio description, BSL and captioning.

Birds of Paradise produce and promote accessible theatre and have created a pre-show audio introduction for both our visually impaired friends and all to enjoy.

The Team

Cast

Robert Softley Gale – Ally

Louise McCarthy – Bernie

Natalie MacDonald – Carrie

Creative Team

Lesley Hart – Writer

Garry Robson – Director

Michelle Rolfe – Producer

Tour Dates

Mon 16 – Sat 21 May 2016

Òran Mór, Glasgow

Tue 24 – Thu 26 May 2016

Ayr Gaiety, Ayr

Reviews

“Role Shift was by turns, a hilarious rollicking comedy, a comment on sexual mores and how the world views the disabled…This piece is both funny and thought provoking and definitely ends on a high. Written by Lesley Hart and directed by Garry Robson, Role Shift earned the players a rousing and well earned extra curtain call, most unusual at Oran Mor. Be there or be  square.”

Mumble Theatre

“Garry Robson’s already done a cracking job of balancing the frisky humour and sensitive issues of gender, sexuality and disability while giving his tremendous cast room to be mischievous.”

The Herald

“It’s a brilliantly raunchy and playful idea, played to the hilt by Garry Robson’s terrific cast.”

The Scotsman

“Garry Robson has created a sparkling diamond of a show that’s as bold and brash as it needs to be”

Broadway Baby

“Brilliant, demented play for PPP”…”a most mischievous Robert Softley-Gale” “all Monroe hips and dirty quips”

The Tempohouse

Photos

A large painted roulette wheel makes the background of the stage. Two actors sit across from each other at a small roulette table and appear to be arguing. In between them a woman dressed as a casino employee appears to be attempting to mediate.

The woman in the sparkly dress stands at the side of the roulette wheel looking sad.The man in the tuxedo is looking up at her We see a caption box in frame which reads: 'I hate this boat. It's a fucking jail'.

The woman in the sparkly dress looks angrily forwards with gritted teeth, while an actor at the side of the stage appears to be signing.

The woman in the sparkly dress sits on the man in the tuxedos lap as they look excitedly at something out of frame.

A large painted roulette wheel makes the background of the stage. The 3 actors, two women and a man on stage appear to be celebrating.

2 actresses stand at the side of the stage and look excitedly forwards. One of them is leaning forwards slightly and pointing with two fingers. They both appear to be in their mid 30s. One is blonde and wearing a sparkly gold dresss and the other has dark hair and is dresssed as a casino employee.

The woman in the sparkly dress straddles the man in the tuxedo. She is throwing her head back and he has a gleeful look on his face.

A man in a tuxedo talks at the front of the stage. A woman in a sparkly dress sits behind him and looks concerned.

A man in a tuxedo looks bemused and a woman looks down on him with a big smile. They both appear to be in their mid 30s. The man has short brown hair and the woman has long blonde hair that is tied up.

A woman in a sparkly dress and a man in a tuxedo kiss.

A large painted roulette wheel makes the background of the stage. Two actors sit across a small roulette table and look forwards in anticipation as a woman throws a ball forward. The woman is dressed like a casino employee in a white blouse with a navy dress over it and a patterned necktie. One actor is a white man sat in a wheelchair, he is wearing a white shirt, black trousers and an undone black bowtie. The woman is also white, and blonde. She is wearing a sparkly gold dress with a long slit up the middle and nude stilletoes

A large painted roulette wheel makes the background of the stage. Two actors sit across a small roulette table and watch in anticipation as a woman throws a ball down. The woman is dressed like a casino employee in a white blouse with a navy dress over it and a patterned necktie. One actor is a white man sat in a wheelchair, he is wearing a white shirt, black trousers and an undone black bowtie. The woman is also white, and blonde. She is wearing a sparkly gold dress with a long slit up the middle and nude stilletoes

A woman in a long gold sparkly dress stands at the front of the stage talking. She points accusingly behind her. She appears to be white, in her 30s and has long blonde hair that is tied back. Behind her there is a man in a wheelchair looking down at a table. He is wearing a white shirt, black trousers and has an untied bow tie around his neck.

A large painted roulette wheel makes the background of the stage. Two dressed up actors, one man and one woman sit across a small roulette table at the centre of the stage. A woman in the middle of them looks excitedly at them as they look over the table at each other.

A large painted roulette wheel makes the background of the stage. A woman stands centre stage with her arms outstretched and her mouth wide open. She appears to be white, in her late 20s and has long dark hair that is tied back. She is wearing a white blouse with a navy dress over it and a patterned necktie Behind her there are two people sat down. One is a blonde woman in a sparkly dress. The other is a smartly dressed man with brown hair.

A large painted roulette wheel makes the background of the stage. A woman in a long glittery dress stands looking at an actor across the stage. She appears to be white and in her 30s and has her blonde hair tied up with a puffed up fringe. The man across the stage is wearing a white shirt and black trousers with an undone black bowtie hanging around his neck. He appears to be white,in his early 30s, with short brown hair and is sat in a wheelchair.

Blog Posts

Day 1 – New Beginnings

It’s Monday morning in the BoP office and there’s a feeling of excitement in the air. We are about to start rehearsals of a […]

Day 3 – Taster for Open Rehearsal

Our open rehearsal is only a day away and we’re very excited to be welcoming people into the rehearsal room for Role Shift. To […]

Q&A with the writer – Lesley Hart

Rehearsals here at BoP are well underway, so we took the chance to ask Lesley Hart, the writer of Role Shift, a few questions […]

Open Rehearsal Reflections

It’s been a week since Birds of Paradise threw open the rehearsal room doors and welcomed theatre-makers and members of the public into Role […]

Farewell

The good ship Fortune has set sale, at least for now! Role Shift had a very successful run at Oran Mor and Ayr Gaiety […]