A documentary about York’s only singing and signing choir, Hands and Voices, as they rehearse a York Mystery Play’s they have written entitled Noah’s Opera to be performed as part of the city’s millennium celebrations. The Hands and Voices choir sings the Nat King Cole hit, "It’s Only a Paper Moon," behind the opening titles hand performing sign-language. Title: Hands and Voices Geoffrey Rawlings provides a background to the choir while they continue to perform. Everyone is...

A documentary about York’s only singing and signing choir, Hands and Voices, as they rehearse a York Mystery Play’s they have written entitled Noah’s Opera to be performed as part of the city’s millennium celebrations. The Hands and Voices choir sings the Nat King Cole hit, "It’s Only a Paper Moon," behind the opening titles hand performing sign-language. Title: Hands and Voices Geoffrey Rawlings provides a background to the choir while they continue to perform. Everyone is wearing sunglasses; many are wearing dark suits. At the front conducting them is Kate Pearson, one of the choir's founders. The other founder of Hands and Voices; Rose Kent rides a bicycle through a park. She is interviewed about how the choir was formed and why signing was the most effective way of getting creativity and music across to an audience. Title: Ideas Geoffrey Rawlings talks about how the Noah project was created from ideas developed by the choir with ‘seasoned performers’ looking forward to a new challenge. Shaun Lavery is helped by two women to sit on a bench in a large garden, he talks about the challenges and the hard work, but it is also a lot of fun. In his bedroom Shaun uses a tape recording of a production to learn his lines as he is visually impaired. Sitting in a chair Shaun talks about acting, as he does so he is seen sitting at the centre of a semi-circle surrounded by other actors as he rehearses his lines. He stands at the back of the rehearsal space as three other performers dance in front of him. The choir begins to perform another song using both their voices and their hands. Key words appear on screen alongside an image. Title: God’s Children. Trouble. Swing Geoffrey Rawlings repeats his comment from earlier about ideas for Noah project which would form part of the millennium celebration as part of the York Mystery Plays. A candle burns in a church, behind it a stained-glass window changes to Kate Pearson and Daniel March walk across a grassy area chatting. Kate speaks about how she turned the choir's ideas into an interactive piece. As she continues to talk about how she worked on the Mystery Play’s script, in the rehearsal space Kate stands over members of the choirs as they make alterations to their script. A small group of choir members sit discussing the changes after which one of them, Rebecca Cooper, reads a section. She is interviewed about reading the script and being part of the choir as well as the importance of the support she receives from fellow members. Kate Pearson continues by describing how she worked out which words and phrases they liked, and which she felt could be signed and so that the words and he signs could be learn the at the same. She talks about how within BSL (British Sign Language) how facial expressions are important to convey meaning as much as the hands. On stage, and in costumes, the choir perform a scene using sign language, one of the performers smiling. Title: Happy Caroline Dale walks across a lawn with her father, in a library she talks about knowing Makaton and how she is learning BSL. In a garden she talks about her favourite songs one of which she performs using sign-language. As the choir perform another song a series of simple computer animations featuring various animals and creatures. In his wheelchair Alan Hacker O.B.E. comes out into his conservatory and picks up his clarinet, he begins to play. He talks how when he sees Hands and Voices perform it is sincere, he continues to describe when he first heard them and the enthusiasm and life which was coming out of them. Title: Life Members of the choir make their way into The National Centre for Early Music at the church of St Margaret in Walmgate, York. Title: Church Shaun Lavery arrives assisted by a man. A woman greets some of the other performs as they enter the building. In their rehearsal space Kate Pearson talks about the serious work that needs to be done, she works with the choir on one of the songs. Title: Difficult. Work Through an interpreter David Goodheart says he finds using signs very hard. Title: Difficult. Signs He has been signing all his life. Title: All. My. Life He learned Makaton, but now is learning lots more signing. David performs with sign as part of the choir, in the foreground Geoffrey Rawlings singing and signs along. Kate Pearson believes everyone can reach the same high standard and work together, as she speaks the choir continues to rehearse. Title: Together Shaun Lavery speaks about working with Kate who he sees as being very musical, he performs on stage and talks about working together with Kate to produce the music. Title: Working Together Daniel March says that he believes that the choir thinks it is their music rather than something produced by a composer, Shaun Lavery and Rebecca Cooper sit and laugh together. Daniel sits with the choir rehearsing, he talks about the writing process. Sitting at a computer Daniel Marsh listening to a recording of Shaun Lavery 'folky' voice, the next piece of 'rhythmic' music will be used in the film showing Noah’s Ark being built. As he speaks the silhouette of the actors in the film over Shaun’s singing. Sitting on a swing-set in a garden Rose Kent and Geoffrey Rawlings sing and sign a song about the biblical flood. Rose talks about the importance of the choir performing to an audience and say they cease being a choir, they become inspirational. Back at The National Centre for Early Music rehearsals continue. Shaun Lavery talks about the nerves of the first performance and becoming more relaxed. As he speaks a scene from the play with Shaun singing. Title: Actor Interview with Louise Crawford about not getting nervous and letting the choir enjoy their experiences. Rose Kent asks Geoffrey Rawlings what he feels about acting, and he says it will be quite an experience. Kate Pearson talks how the cast can pick up on an audience’s sense of humour. Inside The National Centre for Early Music the choir performs for an audience, the piece ends, and they are applauded as they leave the stage. A brief comment from Caroline Dale about going on stage changing to Alan Hacker talking about disabled performers and their helpers and the funds that are needed to support them. As he speaks members of the choir get into a minibus and driven through the countryside. In their costumes members of the choir walk along a church aisle. As Geoffrey Rawlings provides details about the musical ensemble Concert Royal who are working with Hands and Voice for the first time. Alan Packer speaks with two of its founder members Peter Harrison and John Treherne. Title: Working Together The third founding member of the ensemble Margarette Ashton rehearsing alongside Hand and Voices, she talks about how kind and tolerant the choir is and it being a great learning experience. She continues to rehearse alongside a cellist and a man playing a type of flute. John Treherne talks about his experiences working with the choir, he is playing a harpsichord and rehearses alongside other musicians. On a stage Hands and Voices perform Blue Moon by Richard Rogers. Using sign language Rose Kent asks Johnny Dutton, another member of the choir, how long he has been singing. Using his hands, he replies three-years. He likes singing, he talks about his part in Noah’s Opera. Rose Kent walking along the edge of a field change to show Hands and Voices singing together in a library. Interview with Kathryn Wallis about her work with the cast to produce a full-signed performance. She says signs are based on natural gestures and are very obvious, in their rehearsal space the choir continue to work alongside Kathryn, Daniel March, Kate Pearson and Margarette Ashton who work with some of the choir individually using signs as a form of communication. A man wearing a pair of headphones changes to Kate Pearson talking about rehearsals as the opening night draws nearer. On stage the performers rehearsing their pieces. Opening night and dignitaries arriving at The National Centre for Early Music and guests chatting over drinks. One of the actors speaks with a guest about who she plays. Backstage the choir get into their costumes and make final preparations. The audience applaud at the end of the concert with Alan Hacker giving high praise for the performance; a bouquet is presented to Margarette Ashton. The cast take a bow. Title Working Together. Laughing. Actor. Performance. Growth End Credits: With special thanks to all the members of the Hands and Voices choir Cameras Andrew Burns, Edward G. Torsney, Chris Spence, Andy Curry Editing Edward G. Torsney Graphics Andrew Burns Sound Ian Holdforth Music Kate Pearson, Daniel March Director Binny Baker A4E Contemporary Video Collection Yorkshire Video Consortium City of York Council The Old Dairy Sound and Video Studios © 2000