“Every show I do is sign language interpreted.”
Gill Sherry
The title of Ray Bradshaw’s latest tour, CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), gives you some idea of what to expect from this stand-up comedian. At least two of his previous shows – Deaf Comedy Farm and Deaf Com One – provided similar clues, the former being the world’s first ever comedy show to be performed in sign language.
I catch up with Ray ahead of his upcoming show at Glasgow’s Armadillo on 11th April, to find out more about this Glasgow-born entertainer.
“My dad was born deaf… and my mum lost her hearing when she was 14 months old through measles. Sign language was the first language in our house.”
It’s easy to assume that it must have been difficult for Ray growing up, but that wasn’t the case at all.
“Everyone’s the same, you always think your family is dead normal and then you speak to other people about your family and find out you’re absolute weirdos! For me, everything in my upbringing was so normal.”
Watching his own son learning sign language at six years of age reinforces the fact that it all felt so natural for Ray at the same age.
“It’s really nice watching it through his eyes, because I don’t remember learning sign language. I don’t remember telling people at school that my mum and dad were deaf. I’m so much older now and much more aware of things, but it’s a huge part of my identity. It was the culture I grew up in.”
Hence the deaf theme when it comes to his stand-up shows.
“Every show I do is sign language interpreted. I’ve done two shows where I’ve signed it myself but it’s so restrictive because the structure of sign language is different. Instead of ‘what’s your name?’ you would say ‘your name what?’ So you’re constantly performing in two languages at the same time.”
He tried pre-recording the audio and then signing to the audience. He also tried filming himself signing, and then speaking the script. But working to a script doesn’t lend itself well to stand-up.
“The best thing about comedy is you can go left field, stuff can happen. So now I have a sign interpreter in every venue. Karen Forbes does all the Scottish dates. Karen and I have probably done 900-1000 shows together. She’s like a pal, it’s great. It’s so much easier having an interpreter, I can just go and do it.”
Understandably, Ray’s delighted that he’s able to bring comedy to a whole new audience. His first tour, Deaf Comedy Farm, attracted over 800 deaf audience members, most of them experiencing theatre for the first time.
“We always get deaf people coming to comedy for the first time. In Bradford, there was a family of deaf grandparents, hearing kids and hearing grandchildren… and they told me that was the first time they’d ever been to the theatre together. That’s cool because when I was a kid I never went to theatres. The first time my dad ever went to a theatre was for one of my shows.”
With 32 dates in his upcoming tour, there’s ample opportunity to attract even more newcomers.
“It’s a fun legacy of me going out and talking rubbish!” Ray says. “I always enjoy that aspect of it. There are also hearing people who have really enjoyed the show and end up learning sign language. It’s cool.”
CODA is his fourth UK tour and understandably he’s really excited about it.
“It seems a bit mental to be honest. When you start, you don’t really plan out what you’re going to do. I remember doing one tour and thinking it was great. And just before lockdown I was on tour with Frankie Boyle so it seemed like everything was going to happen. Then COVID happened. But I was lucky because at the end of 2021 I met John Bishop and ended up doing 75 dates on this tour. I did venues like The Hydro, Wembley, The O2… and my career came back which was lovely.”
Prior to that fortuitous meeting in 2021 there was a period of around 15 months when Ray found himself applying for jobs at places like Domino’s. Which makes me wonder, was there ever a Plan B?
“Not really. I’ve got a post-grad in career guidance. That was a deal with my mum. I’ve been doing stand-up since I was 19. She said I had to have a back-up plan.”
He was employed as a careers advisor for six months during lockdown, so the back-up plan did work, albeit briefly.
“I handed my notice in when I went back on tour with John. I did Manchester Apollo to 2,500 people and was then remotely giving career advice the next morning. It was mental!”
I expect him to tell me that John Bishop is his favourite comedian, so I’m surprised when he says it’s Dave Allen.
“My gran and grandpa on my mum’s side of the family were hearing, so I spent a lot of time at their house watching old Dave Allen clips. During my teenage years it was Frankie Boyle. I remember watching Frankie and thinking he was so good. He was the first comedian I ever saw live, and I’ve spent a lot of time working with him over the past eight years.”
Now, though, Ray is very much focused on his own upcoming tour, which is as much about raising awareness of the deaf culture, as it is about providing entertainment for both a hearing and non-hearing audience.
“It’s a generalisation but hearing people don’t know a lot about deaf culture and the language so you can drop in facts as you go. My mum and dad were always concerned it was going to be a roast of them and it’s certainly not that. It’s just me talking about my upbringing… all the little quirks.”
Ray’s proud of the fact that his show on 11th April is one of the cheapest at the Armadillo this year.
“Everything’s so expensive. It’s not just tickets, it’s babysitters, parking, drinks, trains… But I’m still very happy to have your money to go towards a World Cup trip!”
At least he’s honest! And one thing’s for sure, it will be excellent value for money.
“You can expect a comedy show that’s slightly different to anything you’ve ever seen, and the chance to see my biggest show ever. I’ve gone from performing to 25 people in Capital in Sauchiehall Street (which is now an Indian buffet restaurant), to The Griffin, to Blackfriars, to The Stand, to Òran Mór to the Pavilion, to the Armadillo. It’s been a slog but the fact that I’ve got there means I’m not rubbish, so you’ll probably get your money’s worth!”
Ray has kept 100 tickets aside to ensure deaf audience members have a good view of the interpreter.
Visit www.raybradshaw.com and follow the link to the email address via the ticketing website.
