ZAMEK Culture Centre

Scored in Silence is a solo digital sign language performance by London-based Deaf Japanese artist, Chisato Minamimura. The show unpacks the hidden perspectives of deaf people from the handful that survived the horrors of the atomic bomb atrocity in Japan in 1945.
Survivors of the A-bomb are known as ‘hibakusha’, and the final performance is based on a period of research, interviews and original films of elderly deaf people with lived experience of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Chisato Minamimura brings these untold narratives into stark relief, touching upon the atrocity of the event and its aftermath including the layers of discrimination experienced by these isolated members of Japanese society.

A cutting-edge, immersive experience utilizing visual and vibration technology. Performed in signed mime and PSL, with sound and Polisch captions. Up to 50 members of the audience will have access to vibrotactile WoojerTM straps that allow the audience to experience the sound of the production, as vibration.

Chisato Minamimura is a Deaf performance artist, choreographer and BSL art guide born in Japan and now based in London. Chisato trained at Trinity Laban in London and holds a BA in Japanese Painting and MA from Yokohama National University. Chisato has created, performed and taught internationally and is currently a Work Place artist at The Place. Chisato has been involved in aerial performances with Graeae Theatre Company, Lon¬don’s Paralympic Opening Ceremony and Rio’s 2016 Paralympic Cultural Olympiad.
Chisato approaches choreography and performance making from her unique perspective as a Deaf artist, experimenting with and exploring the visualisation of sound and music. By using dance and digital technology, Chisato aims to share her experiences of sensory perception and human encounters.

At the heart of the show are cutting-edge visual and vibration technology, these are:

• Woojer© straps, which are worn by audience members, offering a tactile vibrotactility of the

haunting sound composition.

• Holo-guaze©, a projection material that creates a 3D holographic illusion, reflecting the live performance,

visual vernacular, animation and film footage of deaf hibakusha.

Artistic Director and Performer: Chisato Minamimura

Animator: Dave Packer

Lighting and Production Designer: Jon Armstrong

Sonic Artist: Danny Bright

Vibrotactile Specialists: David Bobier/Jim Ruxton (VibrafusionLab)

Visual Vernacular Specialist: Tetsuya Izaki

Sign Language Mentor: Steven Webb

Polish Sing Language Mentors and Interpreters: Robert Tiffert and Rafał Bołdys

Producer: Michael Kitchin

Supported / Partnered by VibrafusionLab, Fanshawe, Ovalhouse Theatre, Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft and CuspincProduc­tion Credits

Photography: Mark Pickthall

The performance is presented in the CK ZAMEK theater program implemented as part of the Europe Beyond Access project, and is one of the events of the UK/Poland Season 2025 funded by the British Council.

ACCESSIBILITY:

Ø The performance will be presented in Polish Sign Language, translated into English (voice) and Polish (subtitles).

Ø The performance is presented without audio description;

Ø Suggested age: 14+;

Ø Duration: approx. 60 minutes;

Ø Tickets: 40 PLN (regular), 30 PLN (reduced)

A person with a disability is entitled to purchase a reduced-price ticket.

A person with a disability requiring assistance may purchase a reduced-price ticket at a price 1 PLN higher than listed one. This ticket grants them guaranteed admission with a companion. This ticket will be verified based on a declaration of disability.

Ø Some audience members will receive Woojer Belts. Thanks to them, they will be able to feel the vibrations of sounds on their bodies.

Ø Viewers sit on chairs arranged in an amphitheater-style auditorium (max. 150 people). Seats are unnumbered; we provide places in the first row for people using wheelchairs;

Ø The amphitheater-style auditorium is located in front of the stage. Distance from the playing area to the first row of the auditorium: approx. 2 m

Ø People with alternative motor skills and/or mobility problems will be able to enter the hall before the performance in the first place.

Ø Louder sounds appears in some scenes of the performance.

Ø In some scenes of the performance, the hall is dimly lit.

Ø The main entrance to ZAMEK Culture Centre is from Święty Marcin Street. There is a ramp and a lift. We can provide assistance to visually impaired visitors in navigating ZAMEK and reaching the building from the immediate vicinity. If you need this kind of assistance, please contact Anna Pawłowska: a.pawlowska@ckzamek.pl

Ø And below you can find tile links to descriptions of individual ZAMEK spaces: Entrance A and the Grand Hall.

Entrance A

 The Museum of Poznan Uprising Entrance

Grand Hall

Ø More information can be found in the 'Accessibility' tab on our website: https://ckzamek.pl/podstrony/170-dostepnosc/

SIMPLE/PLAIN LANGUAGE:

"Scored in Silence" is a solo performance by Chisato Minamimura. This means that only one person performs on stage – Chisato. She is a Deaf artist from Great Britain. She was born in Japan. In her performance, she tells the story of World War II. In 1945, atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. It was a nightmare; many people died. Chisato talks about the fate of Deaf people during and after the bombing.

At this performance, some audience members will receive Woojer Straps. Thanks to them, they will be able to feel the vibrations of sounds on their bodies.
The performance also features a lot of visualizations. These will appear as holograms displayed on a special screen. It looks as Chisato is performing inside the images.
"Scored in Silence" will be presented using visual vernacular technology and in Polish sign language. There will also be Polish subtitles.