Signing for Juliet

A “Eclipse Entertainment and A Perfect Square Production” FILM
WRITTEN BY Jack O'Donnell and Jared Flitcroft

When Alex, a Deaf university student, auditions for a hearing theatre production of Romeo & Juliet, he is defying boundaries set by culture and communication. Instead of being turned away however, Robert, the director, is fully inspired by Alex’s absorbing portrayal of Romeo in New Zealand Sign Language. Robert decides, against all odds, to cast him in a daring bilingual version of Shakespeare’s romantic epic.

Alex’s Deaf family are shocked; so is Natalie, Robert’s girlfriend, who does not want to play Juliet opposite a Romeo who cannot hear. As the production rehearsals continue, the twists and turns of their experiences begin paralleling their on-stage counterparts; severe misunderstanding and communication breakdowns builds between the two cultures as a dangerous love affair springs out of the fray. Can a Deaf and a hearing person be together? How many lives does it affect? And what really lies lurking in the depths of the past?

Signing for Juliet is about love, obsession, intrigue and mystery. To be co-directed by Jared Flitcroft (Deaf) and Jack O’Donnell (hearing), this also marks the first time in the history of New Zealand film that such a collaboration will have occurred. With both Sign and spoken English used during this film, it will explore just how far one would push themselves to fight communication barriers, prejudice and creative pressures in the face of identity.