About NTD Workshops
Lecture / Demonstration Workshop
Creative Drama Workshop
Creativity with Sign Language Workshop
Requirements for All Workshops
Workshop Residency Programs
Book a Workshop

About NTD Workshops

People often leave NTD performances saying “How did they do that?” or “How can I do that?”  In response, NTD has developed a series of workshops for students and the general public which help answer those questions.  Current workshop offerings include Lecture / Demonstration, Creative Drama, and Creativity with Sign Language.  As you examine the general summaries of these workshops listed below, please remember that their content is intentionally flexible, allowing them to be tailored to fit your organization’s goals.

All NTD workshops are conducted in American Sign Language (ASL) accompanied by the spoken word.  In most cases, a hearing NTD cast member will provide the interpreting for the workshop.  However, on rare occasions, NTD may request in advance that the organization hosting the workshop provide a sign language interpreter. 

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Lecture / Demonstration Workshop

This workshop answers the questions “Who we are?”, “What do we do?”, and “How do we do it?”  Intended for audiences of all ages and sign language abilities, it is an animated and informative look at the concept and history of the National Theatre of the Deaf.  Cast members provide demonstrations of NTD’s unique style of visual theatre (a style which NTD actually created) and of techniques used in developing our performances.  A small “hands-on” demonstration using audience volunteers can be added if requested, and the workshop typically ends with a Question and Answer period. 

If you are holding a workshop in conjunction with an NTD performance, excerpts from the show to be seen can be incorporated into the Lecture / Demonstration as a “teaser”.   In fact, organizations that have booked NTD in the past have found the combination of a Lecture / Demonstration workshop followed by an NTD performance to be the perfect “Act 1” and “Act 2” combination.

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Creative Drama Workshop

Length: Up to 1½ hours
Size limit: 25 participants

Intended for students, this workshop consists of theatrical exercises designed to stimulate creativity, imagination, and theatrical inventiveness using our visual theatre techniques.  As part of the workshop’s agenda, students are led in role-playing exercises and other activities which creatively focus on cooperation, trust, and problem solving.  If requested in advance, the workshop’s design can be modified to include material being studied in the classroom.     

To get the most from each workshop as a learning experience, booking organizations are strongly encouraged to assemble workshop groups of similar sign language abilities (e.g. all fluent or all beginning signers).  Given its strong emphasis on freedom of movement, workshop participants should come dressed in loose, comfortable clothing and prepared for some light physical activity.  (A special workshop experience can be provided for participants who cannot perform physical activities.)  Finally, NTD strongly discourages the presence of passive observers in this workshop.  (For example, classroom teachers would be considered active observers while participants’ parents would be considered passive observers.)  Though unintentionally, passive observers tend to distract and inhibit workshop participants and detract from their experiences.   

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Creativity with Sign Language Workshop

Length: Up to 1 ½ hours
Size limit: 25 participants

Intended for Deaf performers, theatre sign language interpreters, interpreting students, sign language students, and actors, this workshop trains participants on dealing with the challenges presented by “theatricalized” American Sign Language and on working with visual theatre techniques.

To get the most from each workshop as a learning experience, booking organizations are strongly encouraged to assemble workshop groups of similar sign language abilities (e.g. all fluent or all beginning signers).  Given its strong emphasis on freedom of movement, workshop participants should come dressed in loose, comfortable clothing and prepared for some light physical activity.  (A special workshop experience can be provided for participants who cannot perform physical activities.)  Finally, NTD strongly discourages the presence of passive observers in this workshop.  (For example, classroom teachers would be considered active observers while participants’ parents would be considered passive observers.)  Though unintentionally, passive observers tend to distract and inhibit workshop participants and detract from their experiences.   

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Requirements for All Workshops

• All NTD workshops require a clean, 30’X30’ space cleared of all furniture and with a blackboard, chalk, and eraser.  (A large stage, dance studio, ballroom, or multi-purpose room is ideal).  

• Photographs may not be taken during the workshop without the expressed, written consent of the National Theatre of the Deaf. 

• Requests to take photographs must be submitted at least 24 hours prior to the workshop.

• Under no circumstances is flash photography allowed.

• Videotaping is not permitted.

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Workshop Residency Programs

In addition to one-day workshops, NTD also offers extended workshop residency programs to organizations seeking deeper arts-in-education experiences.  These specialized programs are developed in conjunction with the hosting educators to satisfy their goals (e.g. enhancing performance training, language skills, and communication skills).  In addition, these programs can be structured to culminate in a student performance.  For more information on Workshop Residency Programs, please contact the Tour Department by calling 860-236-4193 x 3025 or emailing tour@ntd.org .

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Book a Workshop

To book a workshop, please contact the Tour Department by calling 860-236-4193 x 3025 or emailing tour@ntd.org .