Deaf Connection brings us the second iteration of The Lifetime of Deaf and Deafblind, a deeply moving, heart-warming, and decidedly hanky-dampening production that places Deaf and Deafblind voices firmly centre stage. Featuring a cast of Deaf and Deafblind performers alongside hearing/ signing performers, this show is as inclusive as it is powerful. It is fully interpreted throughout, so even if you don’t sign or understand Auslan, you can relax knowing the experience is completely accessible.

The production weaves together the musical creations of director Peter Blockey (also known as Orange Vox) with the lived stories of Deaf artist Princess Nidera and Deafblind artist Eddie Szczepanik, supported by a talented ensemble of hearing and signing performers. What unfolds is a rich tapestry of storytelling, music, and movement that feels both intimate and expansive.

If you attend, do not leave home without tissues. Eddie’s personal journey, shared through song, is profoundly affecting and did not leave a dry eye in the audience. For hearing viewers especially, the show gently challenges how easily we take our senses for granted. It offers insight into the lived experience of being Deafblind, while also exploring how technology and growing community awareness are changing what connection and access can look like.

Just when emotions run high, the show skilfully shifts tone. Laughter ripples through the audience as the tables are turned and Blockey humorously expresses sympathy for the hearing community — particularly those “with sleep disturbed by storms.” It’s a moment of levity that reminds us this is not a story of deficit, but of culture, resilience, and shared humanity.

We laughed, we cried, we danced along, and we stamped our feet in appreciation. Thank you to Deaf Connection for so generously sharing such personal stories, and for deepening audience understanding of Deaf culture in a way that is engaging, educational, and genuinely entertaining.