Roe McDonnell
Branching out from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, I travelled to Deaf Action’s Blackwood Bar and to my first event of Edinburgh Deaf Festival, esteemed Deaf comedian Gavin Lilley with his new show ‘Sign of the Times’. Bringing us through his family history and funny moments from tennis balls on string to avoid the front door to his children today being almost as smart as him. The whole act is in British Sign Language with interpretation by Tessa (resident interpreter at Herriot Watt university) and the chaos both of them brought made everything elevate.
The stories and jokes were hilarious to anyone who has experienced or is involved in the d/Deaf community and really opens your eyes to someone who hasn’t had the knowledge of anything to do with this community before. This goes to show that as time goes on how innovative they have to be just to survive. I’m not giving a lot away but be prepared to be craving a packet of Salt and Vinegar McCoys when you leave one of his shows!
Edinburgh Deaf Festival is currently in its 4th year and continues to provide an accessible way into performances that the main festival still has a lot more to catch up on. With plenty more events over the next week you can expect more comedy, a pub quiz, guest speakers and an amazing production of echoes across time written by Nadia Nadarajah.
Performances of Gavin Lilley: Signs of the Times have now concluded at Edinburgh Deaf Festival 2025. Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Jasmine Silk
Phoebe Bakker
Jake Mace
