Big firsts New families

Jack Volpe is a theatre director, actor and American Sign Language instructor who was born deaf. This November at the Segal Centre, he will be making his professional theatre acting debut in Nina Raine’s highly-acclaimed family drama,Tribes. He will be taking on the role of Billy.

As the only deaf member of an eccentric, intellectual family, Billy longs to be heard. When a surprise romance opens him up to a brand new world of self-expression, Billy discovers that instead of trying to fit into his family’s world, he can break free and find his own. Quick-witted, funny and moving Tribes is a powerful look at language, love, and the universal human longing to be understood.

Though you have an extensive theatre background, this is your first professional acting role. How are you feeling in the build up to rehearsals?
Jack Volpe: I am feeling a little nervous but excited at the same time. I’m still in the process of developing my character and memorizing my lines. I’m really looking forward to meeting my Tribes “family” and developing a relationship with each one of them. I am also really excited to be representing the Deaf community, and for them to see a member of that community on the big stage.

Tribes is focused on Billy, a young, deaf man, who – like you – was raised in a hearing family. Did you notice things in common?
JV: I did notice some similarities between me and Billy. For example, growing up I tended to find myself trailing behind in the family dinner conversations, and when my family wants to talk to me, they know to tap on my shoulder for my attention because I need to make eye contact in order to read their lips.

How hard it is to read lips?
JV: Lip-reading is very difficult. It requires a lot of concentration and being very attentive. If the speaker moves his head too much, it makes it even harder. Men with mustaches and people with accents are also particularly difficult to understand.

What is the biggest misunderstanding the hearing world has about people who are deaf?
JV: That we cannot hear so we cannot speak. Depending on the degree of hearing loss and exposure to oralism, different Deaf people have different speaking abilities and preferences. Also, hearing people tend to think that Deaf people cannot drive because they can’t hear. Deaf people are actually better drivers according to statistics.

Though Tribes is about deafness, it’s also – as the title suggests – very much about who we feel connected to. What’s your definition of family?
JV: Family is all about communication for me. Family is support and good counselling. Family is there for you when you have a problem, without being judgemental. They understand how you are feeling and share the feeling with you.

Tribes runs from November 29 to December 20 at the Segal Centre.