SHARED ENVIRONMENTS Draft 2

A Signdance / Four Nations Outdoor Journey

Signdance Collective (UK) • Znakovni Ples (Croatia) • Ana Monro Theatre (Slovenia) • Transmitter Performance (Austria) • 73 Degree Films

​

What Shared Environments Is

Shared Environments is an international outdoor performance journey exploring how Deaf, disabled, deafened, sight‑impaired and physically disabled artists create work in real weather, real terrain, and real public spaces.

Two works travelled together:

• NOTIZEN — signdance + puppetry

• Stream Walkers — night‑time, light‑based performance

Across the tour, performers adapted to heat, wind, darkness, noise, uneven ground and shifting conditions — without interpreters or add‑ons. Everyone signs. Everyone adapts. Everyone works together. Communication comes from within the ensemble — a shared language built through signdance, movement, rhythm and awareness.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

Where We Went

A journey across Europe:

• Graz (Austria) — parks, shade, relaxed audiences, council‑supported refreshments

• Maribor (Slovenia) — LENT Festival, riverside wind and light

• Ljubljana (Slovenia) — NOTIZEN under the trees, excellent support, relaxed pacing

• Wales (UK) — the unforgettable, noisy, vibrant Wrexfest

• Pula (Croatia) — PUF Festival at 8:00 pm, fading light, stone heat, sea wind

• Croatian Islands — 40°C daytime conditions, shade‑based choreography

• England (UK) — performances next week — dates to be added in D3

Guest artists joined across borders: Scot, Zhiling, Luka (DeafBlind photographer) — each contributing new perspectives and strengthening the shared methodology.

​

How We Worked Outdoors

Outdoor performance demands adaptation. The ensemble developed simple, powerful methods:

• Preparation — arriving early, mapping terrain, testing light

• Terrain Investigation — identifying safe pathways, shade, obstacles

• Pacing — adjusting movement for heat, darkness or wind

• Breath & Water — regulating energy in extreme temperatures

• Shade & Breaks — essential daytime survival

• Environmental Awareness — responding to wind, sound, light

• Shared Cues — stable signals for Deaf, DeafBlind and sight‑impaired performers

These approaches came from lived experience — and from working together as one ensemble.

​

Anecdotes From the Tour

Ljubljana — NOTIZEN under the trees A calm, shaded performance with excellent support. The ensemble found a relaxed, steady rhythm before, during and after the show — PACE, BREATH, WATER, PLANNING, AWARENESS.

PUF Festival, Pula — 8:00 pm We used the fading light as part of the dramaturgy. Heat rose from the stone ground, the sea wind shifted every few minutes, and Transmitter Performance’s visual‑music dramaturgy blended beautifully with the environment.

Croatian Islands — 40°C The ensemble slowed the choreography, worked in shade, and used breath‑based pacing to stay safe and expressive.

Wrexfest, Wales Performing beside a rock festival, the group tested vibration‑based cues and obstruction awareness — proving that communication can thrive even in extreme noise.

Graz, Austria The city council provided refreshments for audiences — a gesture of care that matched the ensemble’s own commitment to audience comfort.

Maribor, Slovenia LENT Festival’s riverside wind transformed puppetry, making objects part of the environment.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Companies

Signdance Collective (UK) A 40‑year disability‑led company pioneering signdance theatre — where movement, sign languages and music create a unique visual performance language.

Znakovni Ples (Croatia) Signdance Europe’s home base, supporting international touring and development.

Ana Monro Theatre (Slovenia) Masters of outdoor, night‑time performance and environmental dramaturgy.

Transmitter Performance (Austria) Innovators in interdisciplinary music and visual‑music dramaturgy, bringing depth and clarity to NOTIZEN.

73 Degree Films (Rob Corcoran) Exploring streaming, digital intervention and adaptive filming for outdoor signdance — especially in night‑time environments.

​

Why It Matters

Shared Environments shows that outdoor performance can be:

• inclusive

• adaptive

• resilient

• creative

• international

It proves that disability‑led methods offer powerful tools for working in unpredictable environments — and that outdoor arts grow stronger through collaboration across nations.