Ciaran O'Breen returns to his Theatre Home as Captain Chatter
6 Sep 2024
Deaf Actor Ciaran O'Breen talks about his upcoming role "Captain Chatter" in Wonder Boy and his connection to Bristol Old Vic and Beyond.
As I prepare to tour with the revival of "Wonder Boy", I am very excited to bring the play alive on the stage again after its last shown in 2022. The original cast member Ramesh Meyyappan played Captain Chatter.
As I was on an emerging creative artist placement, I remember watching him in the rehearsal room. His captivating performance inspired me deeply. In May 2024, we collaborated and shared our creativity with each other. I look forward to showcasing new work in 'Wonder Boy,' sharing my performance style with the audience.
The five weeks rehearsals have been fun! The director Sally Cookson really values visual language on the stage, which gives me many great opportunities to delve into physical theatre, visual vernacular and BSL for my character, Captain Chatter.
I can’t wait to get to visit all the venues. We open at BOV and I can’t help but reflect how excited I am to open in my home town. One of my favourite spots in the city is the Bristol Packet Boat trip to Avon Gorge. It’s an amazing way to grasp the city’s history, and as a proud Bristolian, I always recommend it. Outside of Bristol, York stands out as another city close to my heart. Its beauty and rich history, especially the cathedral and castle, make it a place I’m excited to return to.
The upcoming tour is more than just performing in new cities; it's about connecting with the deaf community in various locations, including people who have known me since I was 4. It’s incredible to have their support.
We hope our work can inspire others to expand deaf representation and creativity in access/inclusivity in the theatres. Every performance features creative captioning. This allows deaf audience members more freedom in choosing when to see the show.
Bristol Old Vic has been my theatre home since I was 11.
My passion for theatre started with captioned and interpreted shows at BOV, including occasionally seeing deaf cast members, like Nadia Nadarajah and Stephen Collins in “Christmas Carol”. They inspired me and helped me realise that deaf performers can successfully work in a mainstream show.
My bedroom shelf is filled with about 50 theatre programmes, each a cherished memory.
Before and after shows, my hearing mum interpreted for me with the BOV staff, making connections, which enabled me join courses and workshops like the Made in Bristol programme and BOV's Young Company, where I met incredible people like director Sally Cookson. It inspired and shaped my journey in the arts.
One of my proudest moments was leading BOV’s first-ever British Sign Language (BSL) tour. Bringing the deaf community into the building to explore its rich history was a wonderful experience.
My mum, who’s always believed in me, will be in the audience to see Wonder Boy at BOV, which will be one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences. Keeping my emotions in check on stage while knowing she’s watching will be tough!
Looking back, I remember being 13 and telling my mum after watching Sally Cookson’s "Jane Eyre" at BOV that if I could ever choose a role, I’d play Pilot, the dog. She encouraged me, saying, "You absolutely can be an actor and perform at Bristol Old Vic” Now, here I am, playing Captain Chatter in “Wonder Boy”. It’s a dream come true, and I couldn’t have asked for a better next step in my theatre career.
