Three women, three timelines, and a mystery – Echoes Across Time is a specially commissioned theatrical storytelling production which will be a centrepiece of the Edinburgh Deaf Festival.
Written and directed by Nadia Nadarajah it explores the disappearance of two deaf women in 2000 and 2012 as traces of their lives begin to reappear in 2025.
The festival, organised by Deaf Action, runs from 8-17 August and has a vibrant programme of more than 70 shows and events embracing everything from drama to comedy, music and magic.
Echoes Across Time will be performed by three British Sign Language-using actresses, but will have an English-language performance interpreter and creative captions, making it fully accessible to both deaf and hearing audiences.
It is set in Berwick-Upon-Tweed, in a flat with a garden where the roses refuse to bloom.
The story follows one woman’s journey to uncover forgotten connections and unseen paths. It’s told through silence, resilience, and time itself. As the past gently stirs, new questions are raised.
Nadia, the festival’s Creative Programmer (who earned critical acclaim for her performance as Cleopatra at Shakespeare’s Globe in 2024), said: “This is a story about a search for understanding. Where do the missing traces lead and what is waiting to be found?
“It has been created as a piece of deaf performance art that is fully accessible to hearing audiences.
“I believe it is hugely important to bridge the divides between communities, so hearing people can enjoy and experience deaf culture, and so talented deaf creatives can have a route into the performing arts mainstream.”
The actors are Irina Vartopeanu, from Romania and now based in Glasgow, Claire Wetherall, a Geordie living in Scotland and Benedetta Zanetti, who is originally from Italy. Naomi Gray will be interpreting the BSL into English.
Naomi says the production is ideal for both hearing and deaf audiences: “Storytelling is one of the strengths of signed language – it is visually immersive in a way that spoken language isn’t, you’ll find yourself watching in a new way.
Claire, who is ambitious to build a career as an actor and a playwright, believes that hearing people attending Edinburgh Deaf Festival events will gain a new perspective.
She said: “It is so important that we, as deaf people, are recognised for our skills, as these have been overlooked for so long.
“We want to change people’s attitude towards disabled artists. It needs to be understood that we are people with a lot of amazing skills who just happen to be deaf.”
Organised by Deaf Action, (the world’s oldest deaf charity and deaf-led organisation, which dates back 190 years to 1835) the festival continues the pioneering work that made Edinburgh a world-leader in championing the interests of deaf people.
Other festival events include a networking session with Scottish-based theatre company Solar Bear, allowing deaf and hearing creatives to connect, a pub quiz, karaoke, discussions, parties and film screenings.
Other 2025 programme highlights include:
- John Smith Show’s 20 Years of Laughter: Celebrate two decades of sharp wit and non-stop laughter with one of the UK’s best-known deaf comedians.
- Deaffy Drag Queeny: Glitter, Gags and GSV: Deaf drag queens Mary and Danielle bring cheeky charm, outrageous wit and deaf gay Pride to the stage.
- Ivory Cutlery by Evie Wadell: Let your imagination run wild with Evie Waddell as she presents a visual and musical storytelling experience inspired by the magnificently eccentric Scottish poet and singer Ivor Cutler.
- Gavin Lilley: Signs of the Times: A hugely popular deaf comedian who bridges the gap with hearing audiences with his fresh take on everything from parenthood to travel misadventures.
- Magic Morgan and Liliana: A family-friendly show packed with illusions, comedy and mime.
- Scratch Night: An evening of bold new ideas from comedy to experimental acts – raw creativity which may be the next big thing.
There will be comedy and drama workshops, guided tours of The Georgian House, the Royal Botanic Garden and National Galleries Scotland.
A festival Youth Club for deaf young people aged 10-18 will run from 8-10 August and there will be a parent and toddler group.
The festival, which runs in collaboration with the Fringe, is also working with Summerhall, the Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Art Festival, and the Edinburgh International Book Festival to provide a range of accessible events.
An interpreter and captioning request service will allow deaf people to arrange an interpreter or captioner for Fringe shows that are not accessible.
Deaf Action is working with local businesses to create The Edinburgh Signing Quarter, a network of deaf-friendly cafes and bars in the Broughton Street and Canonmills area.
-Ends-
Notes for editors
Cast
- Irina Vartopeunu
- Benedetta Zanetti
- Claire Wetherall
- Naomi Gray – performance interpreter
Listings Details
- Venue: Deaf Action – Blackwood Bar, 49 Albany St, Edinburgh EH1 3QY
- Time: 18:30
- Dates: Aug 15-17
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Ticket prices: £10 to £12
- Tickets: https://www.edfringe.com
About Claire Wetherall
Claire Wetherall (she/her) is Deaf Geordie actor who is now based in Scotland. She is British Sign Language user. She trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (2018-2021) as well as trained at Newcastle College Performing Arts BTEC (2014-2017).
Her film acting has included Film4 Short film BOAT (2018) directed by Louise Stern Joystick (2024) directed by Stuart Wilson, as part of Edinburgh 48 Hour Film Project.
Claire’s stage performances have included Much Ado About Nothing playing Hero in 2022, Sheffield Theatre & Ramps On The Moon, directed by Robert Hastie. In 2023, she was nominated for prestigious annual Ian Charleson Awards (supported by the National Theatre and Sunday Times) for her performance as Hero in Much Ado About Nothing. Wake Up was three productions and Claire was involved in Moria Anne McAuslan’s play in 2023, as part of Solar Bear tour. The Third Sister was Solar Bear’s production, with directed by Jonathan Lloyds and co-directed by Ciaran Stewart then was toured in early 2023.
About Irina Vartopeanu
Irina Vartopeanu (she/her) is a Deaf actor and creative, originally from Romania, now based in Glasgow, Scotland. She is fluent in British Sign Language (BSL) and Romanian Sign Language (LSR) and speaks Romanian. Irina trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where she developed her passion for performance and storytelling. Her credits include Fault Lines with Two Destination Language, Hear No Evil at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, The Jungle Book with Jellyfish Theatre, and Disciples for Stellar Quines. also performed in Where Are You? at the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival’s Family Encounters Day, and in Bounce with Dirliebane Theatre. Irina was previously involved in the research and development project titled Stuck Together. This August, she is excited to performer at Echoes Across Time at the Edinburgh deaf festival (Deaf Action).
About Naomi Gray
Naomi Gray is the Performance Interpreter, providing the spoken English access for “Echoes Across Time”. Naomi has been acting since 2004 and started leaning BSL in 2007, eventually qualifying as a BSL Interpreter and has been working with the deaf community since. She is thrilled to be a part of the show, working with this talented team of storytellers in Edinburgh. Link: https://www.spotlight.com/1978-9085-2070
About Benedetta Zanetti
Benedetta Zanetti is an actor, director and writer from northern Italy. She trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on the BA Performance for Deaf and HoH actors (2021) and theMA Classical and Contemporary Text/Acting (2022). In her practice, she is passionate about feminism and exploring different perspectives of the same story, which is why she’s incredibly excited to be returning to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year, performing in the 3 women show “Echoes Across Time”!
Her Theatre credits include: Mother Goose (Gaiety Theatre), Second Person Narrative (Understudy, RCS), Zoe’s Peculiar Journey Through Time (TheatreRites), FunnyBones (SFTW). Her TV credits include: Bye Bye Sound (EmptyStreet Films), Carpe Lemon (Unmuted Productions, 48hours Challenge), Afterword (RCS)
About Nadia Nadarajah
Nadia Nadarajah is an award-winning actress, presenter, and writer. A fluent BSL user, she is best known for her leading role in Cleopatra at Shakespeare’s Globe and wrote A Ghost of Alexander Blackwood play for Edinburgh Deaf Festival last year. Nadia is the host of Thrive Live, monthly streamed talk show by and for deaf women, creating space for open conversation, identity, and connection. She has recently returned to directing with her second short film, coming soon to LumoTV, and continues to focus her career on theatre, film, and developing new deaf-led stories.
More information
- See the Edinburgh Deaf Festival website at https://edinburghdeaffestival.co.uk.
- Tickets available through the Fringe box office at https://www.edfringe.com.
Festival supporters and sponsors: We would like to thank our supporters and sponsors including Creative Scotland, signwow, Heriot-Watt University, and Baillie Gifford.
About Deaf Action
- Deaf Action is a deaf led charity based in Edinburgh, supporting people in Scotland and the South of England – see https://www.deafaction.org
- Founded in 1835 it is the world’s oldest deaf charity and the first formally constituted deaf organisation.
- It exists to support the diversity of deaf people, including deaf users of British Sign Language (BSL), and those who are deafened, deafblind or hard of hearing.
- Deaf Action’s work is geared towards empowering all deaf people to achieve their potential and fully participate in society, with equality of rights, access and opportunity.
- Almost half of the staff are deaf, and many more have grown up with deaf parents or siblings. Deaf Action truly understand the challenges deaf people face, and believes that its collective experience allows it to honestly position itself as having the expertise to unlock deaf people’s potential.
Social media: www.instagram.com/edindeaffestival/ www.twitter.com/EdinDeafFest/ www.facebook.com/EdinDeafFestival/
Signwow: signwow is a deaf-owned and deaf-led online BSL interpreting service based in the UK. They are committed to empowering Deaf people to connect, communicate, and contribute by providing inclusive, accessible services that celebrate Deaf culture and promote equality in everyday life. They are a sponsor of this year’s Edinburgh Deaf Festival.
About Creative Scotland: Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow us @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland.
For media information contact Matthew Shelley at SFPR on 07786 704 299 or at Matthew@ScottishfestivalsPR.org