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'I prepare for hours as a sign language performer'

Alice Cullinane
BBC News, West Midlands
BBC Rebecca is wearing a long sleeve black top. She has pink hair and is wearing round glasses and red lipstick. BBC
Rebecca Palmer uses sign language to become every character during a performance

Before Rebecca Palmer steps onstage, she dedicates hundreds of hours to prepare for her performances.

The 20-year-old, from Penkridge, Staffordshire, is a sign language performer in her spare time, helping to make events more accessible for deaf people.

From analysing scripts and researching song lyrics to rehearsing and visually recreating sound effects, Ms Palmer said preparing for shows was "very complex".

"There is a misconception that performing sign language involves just stepping on stage but it's a lot more than that," she said.

The full-time sound engineer said that using sign language to become every single character during a performance was a "great challenge" that she really enjoyed.

"Engaging with different audiences at every single performance is just magical."

Rebecca is standing on a stage wearing a black dress. She is signing a performance of the Little Mermaid, which fills the stage with blue lights. Actors are wearing red and blue mermaid outfits and sea creature costumes
The 20-year-old recently performed at the Little Mermaid show in Birmingham

Ms Palmer started learning British Sign Language (BSL) 10 years ago, before combining her love for the language with theatre to become a performer during her teenage years.

Since then, she has featured at more than 20 events across the West Midlands including at The Alexandra theatre in Birmingham and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.

She said that sign language was like "creating an art form" and was her favourite way to express herself.

"Once I'm on stage, my head is in the game and I'm in another world, it's something I absolutely love," she said.

Rebecca Palmer Rebecca is wearing a black top and a black and white blazer. She is standing in front of a brick building with a sign that says 'Lichfield Garrick Theatre'Rebecca Palmer
Ms Palmer recently took part in a brand new play which she said was an "extraordinary challenge"

She recently took on the script of a brand new play Honest Lies at the Lichfield Garrick Theatre which she described as an "extraordinary challenge".

It involved analysing unfamiliar characters, topics and storylines to depict motherhood and relationships, she said, which was a "privilege" to be a part of.

"This was one of the most rewarding processes and I feel so lucky to share the stage with such talented actors, directors, stage managers and technical team."

Ms Palmer said that learning sign language had given her the opportunity to learn about deaf culture and the beauty of creating visual interpretations of the world.

"It provides access to a whole new community of people that I really value and love," she said.

She hoped that the arts would become accessible to all, through providing BSL captioning, audio description and touch tools.

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