What people say

“I really liked that the trainer was both a dancer and a sign language interpreter. They had an insight that just dancers often miss.”

“The relaxed environment allowed us the freedom to be creative and learn how to visualise and relate what we were learning to interpreting, without the pressure of translating. It gave me lots more tools for the toolbox.”

“Stacey has a warm welcoming encouraging way about her. She knows her stuff and shared her knowledge gently and thoughtfully.”

“Martin put me at ease as soon as I arrived at the venue. He is warm, funny and delivers the course in a relaxed but entertaining way.”

“I loved getting to watch and then have a go at interpreting a drag performance, alongside the history and language insights.”

“Martin's open, flexible and welcoming approach gave us a safe space to acknowledge our limitations and try out a little of what we'd learnt.”

“I appreciated the three engagement exercises: interpreting how a goal would be described through a conversation in BSL, interpreting during football coaching within a community, and interpreting during a matchday in the stadium when announcing the lineup.”

“It was great to have the space to explore the football domain, ask questions and learn.”

“The trainers were highly knowledgeable and supportive.”

“I really appreciated how engaging and practical the course was. It gave me the opportunity to develop my confidence in BSL music interpreting while experimenting with different techniques and styles. I especially enjoyed the supportive environment, which made it easier to take creative risks and learn from others. I was made to feel so comfortable.”

“I loved the lived-in knowledge from the trainers, their perspective on what constitutes a good performance interpreter. It has given me a whole new perception on the skill set, how to translate songs using a mixture of English, BSL, SSE and expression.”

“Everything. From start to finish I thought it was amazing. Can't wait for the next one.”

“Course tutors were amazing. Eddie and Matthew are vastly experienced and knowledgeable in their craft and were happy to give anecdotes and answer any questions we had. I liked the balance of theory and experiential segments. The course was so refreshing.”

“A real chance to learn from the masters. Fascinating to hear about their work interpreting the news, and the strategies they use to prep — and to cope with the unknown during live broadcasts.”

“I came away with so much: networking with colleagues, the experience and knowledge shared by the trainers, real insight into the complicated world of politics, two theories to weigh up when working, and being given permission to 'own' the message.”

“I particularly loved the part where we watched the song without the music. It made me see what was and wasn't being communicated and really made me want to change how I was interpreting music.”

“I really valued the feedback from both Paula and Marie, and loved the support from the group. The perfect number of attendees; any more and it would have been overwhelming. It felt safe, and even though I was nervous at the beginning I soon felt comfortable with everyone.”

“One of the best interpreting courses I've been on. I just wish there was a follow-on so I could do more.”

“It gave realistic expectations of the area of specialism with real-life examples of the demands of the work. I really appreciate the bluntness and truthfulness of the interpreters. The humour of both Vicky and Paula made a CPD session a lot more fun.”

“The presenters brought experience, passion, honesty and humour to the topic. No sugar-coating, just facts. I left feeling inspired and enthused, but with a clear idea of the realities of this kind of interpreting.”

“The people leading it were a great vibe and clearly enthusiastic. It was great to learn about the mentoring option and I will definitely be looking into that.”

“Nadia was a great trainer and presented in a very engaging way. The discussions were interesting and gave us a lot of food for thought. The practical exercises were fun and useful, and getting us to practise all at the same time reduced the fear of being watched and judged.”

“The practical exercises gave me insight into what it's like to interpret for Deaf actors, especially in the run-up to a show (set-up, rehearsal, reading etc). It also helped identify technical and interpreting challenges and ways to handle these as they arise.”

“The practical workshop elements showed us how to tackle real challenges. Very informative and incredibly honest — helpful to know what to expect.”

“I could have done a whole day on this topic. Paula has such a wealth of knowledge and is such a great communicator. A really helpful introduction with plenty of practical tips. I really appreciated her sharing templates and going through them together to show us how to edit setlists as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

“Paula's style of delivery was very clear and engaging, and the whole session felt like a supportive learning environment.”

“Paula was very personable and very experienced.”