I have just had a zoom session on making autobiographical work with Graeae’s Beyond theatre makers cohort 2024- a bespoke programme for nurturing talent.

They asked what have I gotten out of doing this and why did I do it.   Two very good questions to which I only know some of the answers to.  Here goes –

Theatre is about stories. I was asked to allow my story to take over my original ambition which was to adapt Anne Fine’s Flour Babies. I like a challenge even though I was dubious about this one. I realised that the actor within me (I started out as an actor) was still there so I took the plunge and put myself  back on the stage.

I am mindful that I am Artistic Director of Graeae, so taking an actor slot was something the company considered carefully, but felt that it was timely. Timely because for 27 years I have been directing, and this presented the opportunity to come a full circle. BUT also – I, on the ‘off chance,’ asked Soho Theatre, who Graeae have a long history with,

‘How does a company become part of Soho in Edinburgh as ‘Graeae is developing my one-woman show. Can we be part of it?’.

It is a classic Sealey thing to do- ‘If you don’t ask, you don’t get!’ They gave us dramaturgical support and followed the development carefully and then said, yes.  It all snowballed from there. Suddenly we had to make it happen. I am so aware that I am privileged having the Graeae team behind me to make this work for me. The Graeae massive is a force of nature!

There are many Deaf stories, and mine is only one of them. But it became a story I needed to tell, not only because I make theatre, but there are aspects of my story that acts as a warning to a younger generation.

I have had to have very delicate conversations with my family and had to seek their full permission to do this. I say in the play ‘I am doing my story, but the thing about it is, it’s not just my story, it’s other people’s stories too’. I have learnt so much about my family history, and how even though we are part of the same narrative, we have a completely different take on it.

I have realised many things about my mum and just how extraordinary she was. I feel lucky to have been able to understand her through a new lens. I would have loved her to have seen this play. Although I impersonate her and put her life on stage too, I think she would have like it.  My dad – mmmm I am not so sure he would appreciate the play. He was such a quiet man, as he did not get a look in having four daughters and a very out- going wife.

In the play, I say ‘Every family has secrets.’ After every matinee, evening show, audiences come up and tell me their secrets! It has been brilliant to listen to all those stories and `I hope that some of the people I have spoken to will find a way to write up and share their narrative.

One last reflection. Learning lines is hard!!