Dead Centre present Deaf Republic (New York)

A gunshot in occupied territory. A deaf boy is killed for disobeying orders he couldn’t hear. The next day, the whole town wakes up deaf.  

Adapted from the poems of Ukrainian-American author Ilya Kaminsky, Deaf Republic is an epic modern fable of war, humanity and collective resistance.  

Fresh from its acclaimed premiere at here at the Royal Court, where it was named as one of The Stage‘s top shows of 2025, Deaf Republic is theater of rare invention and rare feeling, holding a whole town’s refusal to listen up against a world that will not stop shouting.

World-renowned theatre company Dead Centre collaborate with Sign Language poet Zoë McWhinney. Told through a mix of spoken English, British Sign Language (BSL), creative captioning and silence, Deaf Republic brings together an ensemble of deaf and hearing actors, aerial performers, puppetry, live cinema and poetry.

Adapted from the book by: Ilya Kaminsky
Adaptation by: Dead Centre and Zoë Mcwhinney

Direction: Bush Moukarzel and Ben Kidd
Dramaturgs: Lydia Gratis, Jess Latowicki, Gill Greer
Assistant Director: Liam Rees
Stage Design: Jeremy Herbert
Costume Design: Mae Leahy
Lighting Design: Azusa Ono
Video Director: Grant Gee
Sound Design & Composition: Kevin Gleeson
Associate Sound Designer: Fred DeFaye

Puppetry Consultant: Cillian O’donnacha
Marionnette Puppets Created By: Marrionettes.cz
Puppet of Anushka created by Suse Reibisch

Aerial Consultants: Chrissie Ardill & Kat Cooley
Aerial Crew: Chrissie Ardill, Marie Williamson, and Merlin Stone

Fight Choreographer: Ciarán O’Grady
Intimacy Coordinators: Roisin O’Donovan & Abi Kessel
Video Programmer: Michael Dunne
Relighter: Peter Bond

Stage Manager: Sibéal Ní Mhaoileoin
Assistant Stage Manager: Ross Smith
Set Technician: Anika Kidd

Wardrobe Manager: Eimear Hussey

Production Manager: Gavin Kennedy
Producer: Tilly Taylor
Associate Producer: Lianne Quigley

Producer for Royal Court Theatre: Hannah Lyall

This tour is supported by Culture Ireland. 

Deaf Republic was funded originally co-produced with Royal Court Theatre and funded by the Arts Council of Ireland, in association with Dublin Theatre Festival and Complicité, with support from field:arts and ZooCo.