Shakespeare like you've never seen before!

A group of deaf actors in Exeter will be given the chance to perform Shakespeare in a fresh way, thanks to a donation from the region’s leading housebuilder.

PaddleBoat Theatre Company has formed a relationship with the Royal Academy for Deaf Education in Exeter.

PaddleBoat has now received a £1,000 grant from Persimmon Homes South West to help offer new performance opportunities to students at the Deaf Academy.

Artists from PaddleBoat will work alongside students from the Academy to devise a sign language, non-verbal piece inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

Katy Dash, Artistic Director at PaddleBoat, said: “We’re thrilled to receive this generous donation from Persimmon Homes.

“We hope that our drama workshops will inspire and encourage students at Exeter’s Royal Academy for Deaf Education to celebrate their creativity with a final performance open to the public at Exeter Library.

“Often deaf people feel outside and marginalised by the hearing world but drama is a key area where deaf people can achieve and feel confident and capable.”

The donation comes as part of Persimmon Homes’ Community Champions scheme.

Each month Persimmon’s South West region, based in Exeter, has £2,000 to give away to good causes.

Nina Hester, sales and marketing director at Persimmon Homes South West, said: “We are delighted to hand over this money to PaddleBoat Theatre.

“The work they are doing with the deaf community within Exeter is fantastic and I’m sure it will be a great show. I’m certainly looking forward to seeing it.

“Our Community Champions scheme has been running for more than a year-and-a-half and we have donated almost £40,000 to groups and charities in the south west. That’s something we are immensely proud of.

“Applications for funding can be made quickly and easily by visiting www.persimmonhomes.com/charity.”