Unmasking the White Deaf Gaze

SOUND OFF: A Deaf Theatre Festival

Theatre created by and for Deaf communities often unfolds under the watchful eye of dominant cultural norms — what theorist Toni Morrison called “the white gaze.” In Deaf Theatre, this gaze can shape everything from casting and storytelling to aesthetics, funding, and even audience expectations.

This 90-minute interactive workshop invites participants to critically examine how the white gaze operates in Deaf Theatre and how it impacts artists, audiences, and institutions. Together, we will:

• Explore the concept of the white gaze and its historical roots in both mainstream and Deaf cultural spaces.

• Identify common patterns of how whiteness has influenced Deaf Theatre practices (e.g., narrative framing, sign language aesthetics, production choices, leadership structures).
  e strategies for dismantling harmful norms and cultivating theatre practices that center Deaf IPBOC voices, cultural sovereignty, and authentic representation.

Through guided discussion, small-group reflection, and creative prompts, participants will leave with a deeper understanding of systemic inequities and concrete steps toward co-building more equitable, community-driven theatre spaces.

Who it’s for: White Deaf theatre practitioners, White interpreters, White educators, White students, and White friends interested in challenging systemic biases in creative work.

Duration:1.5 hours (includes discussion, breakout activities, and Q&A)

ASL/English Accessible

All tickets Pay What You Will.

You will receive a Zoom link to view this performance by email the morning of the event.

• Workshop
• $20.00
• March 7, 2026
• 90 minutes
• 14:00
• Online
• Online
• General (G)