SOUND OFF, the unique national Deaf theatre festival, is back, with a 10th birthday edition, Theater News

Where do groundbreaking multi-disciplinary bilingual performing arts festivals with a national embrace come from anyhow?

Short answer: Edmonton. Longer answer: need. Ten years ago, a enterprising U of A theatre grad got invited to speak on a panel that was considering a leading question, “Why Can’t I Get In?”.

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That question of the moment was particularly meaningful to Deaf theatre artist Chris Dodd. “I had a chance to speak at length about my frustrations and challenges with getting my foot in the door,” recalls the engaging Deaf actor/ director/ playwright/ artistic director/ consultant/ mentor, and new recipient of the Order of Canada. With the help of Vern Thiessen (the Workshop West artistic director at the time), “an event which celebrated Deaf creators and actors” — and turned out to be a festival — was born in that moment.

Chris Dodd, founder and artistic director of SOUND OFF Festival. Photo by Jade Dodd.

And it took root. SOUND OFF, unique in the country and on the continent, bilingual (English and ASL), and accessible and hospitable to both hearing and Deaf audiences, is back Tuesday for a 10th anniversary edition (through March 8 at the Fringe Arts Barns): seven mainstage plays from across Canada, four digital shows, no fewer than nine workshops, readings, panel discussions, comedy, improv — and for the first time a grand finale cabaret. The Deaf AF Cabaret includes “songs, dance, drama, stand-up comedy, audience interactions and even a bit from Deafy,” says Dodd of his own award-winning play. Altogether “more than 20+ events over the six days.”

The MaryRobbin Show, SOUND OFF 2026. Photo supplied.

SOUND OFF’s founding father is remembering the debut of the festival that has become a bona fide Canadian theatre success story. “We started rather modestly,” Dodd says. “We had three shows, two workshops, a panel and our first improv with Rapid Fire Theatre….”

“Vern and I always imagined the festival as a national event,” Dodd says. “The goal was to unite Deaf artists from across our far-flung country and give them a stage and a voice.” SOUND OFF number 1 brought in artists from Kingston, Ont (Deaf Spirit Theatre), Winnipeg (100 Decibels) and Regina (Deaf Crows)…. With a stroke of luck, along with some careful planning, we have people from all three original groups returning this year.” And the annual improv collaboration with Rapid Fire, a hit from the start, is a tradition that continues.

Says Dodd, ”the Saturday show, Theatresports: SOUND OFF Edition, has always been a highlight of the festival for me. It never fails to be uproariously hilarious. This year we’re going back to the original format from the first year, a hearing vs Deaf team.” As you might expect Deaf performers rock when it comes to physical comedy and non-verbal eloquence.

Born Between Waves, SOUND OFF FESTIVAL 2026. Photo supplied.

Has Dodd noticed trends among the participating artists? “It seems each year we find a common theme, deliberately or not. This (big birthday) year, of course, is about looking forward while looking back….” Dodd says he’s noticed “an expansion into areas that were not as well developed in the past, including signed music and Deaf dance performances.” He adds, “our shows are bold and uncompromising and they loudly say ‘we are here’…. We’ve even had a show about a Deaf serial killer, with near-nudity.”

In matters of accessibility, a lot has happened in a decade, to be sure, and SOUND OFF has been influential. In 2023, Dodd’s Deafy, in which he starred, was the first play by a Deaf artist to be produced on the Citadel stage ever, in 58 seasons. Theatres regularly include ASL interpretation, for example. The mainstage shows are all pay-what-you-can. And the festival has always taken great care to be friendly to both Deaf and hearing audiences.

Chris Dodd, creator and star of Deafy, Citadel Theatre. Photo by Nanc Price.

And as for the future? What’s next, says Dodd, is ”to figure out how to expand the festival within the limits of our current funding and to discover new ways in which we can support Deaf artists outside the confines of the March festival…. Also, we’ll be looking to build partnerships with international Deaf artists and bring their work to our stage.”

PREVIEW

SOUND OFF 2026

Where: Fringe Arts Barns, 10330 84 Ave.

Running: Tuesday through March 8

Tickets, lineup, and full schedule: soundofffestival.com/tickets (all mainstage tickets are pay-what-you-can).