formidAbility the world’s first Opera Company that puts accessibility at the foundation of the creative process is just about to take their Arts Council funded project ‘Song in Sign’ out on tour to London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow during January February and in to early March.

The project will bring singers, performers, musicians and signers together to showcase the energy and emotion of music through Sign Language, gesture and mime, blurring the lines between opera and song, merging the aural and the visual to break down some of those barriers thrown up by language, culture and disability.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Joanne Roughton-Arnold, visually impaired Opera Singer, CEO and Creative Director of formidAbility to find out more about the background to Joann’e’s Opera Company formidAbility, where the idea for ’Song in Sign’ came from and how the project has evolved during the rehearsal process leading up to the performances and workshops. 

About ‘Song in Sign’ and tour dates:

Two opera singers, a pianist and two signing actors join forces to create a feast for the senses in a joyous merging of Song and Sign including the world premiere of The Happy Prince by Rylan Gleave and Max Chase.

The project includes concert performances plus student and community workshops.

Concert dates:

London -23 January, 7.30pm, Guildhall School of Music and Drama

Birmingham - 30 January, 7.00pm, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Manchester - 2 February, 7.30pm, Royal Northern College of Music

Glasgow - 1 March, 1pm, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

For more about ForemidAbillity and details about how to book for the up-coming ‘Song in Sign’ performances and workshops do visit the following pages of the ForemidAbility website - https://www.formidability.org/2022-song-in-sign