For over 15 years, Ishtiaq Hussain has been captivating audiences with his exceptional skill in Visual Vernacular (VV) a dynamic performance style that combines facial expressions, mime, body movement, and iconic gestures to tell powerful, visually engaging stories. His work goes beyond spoken language, creating theatre that is accessible, emotional, and deeply resonant for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Offstage, Ishtiaq is passionate about sharing his VV expertise and knowledge. He supports artists and creatives in incorporating VV and British Sign Language (BSL) into their own work, offering training and mentorship to promote inclusion through visual storytelling.
Zoë McWhinney introduces poetry that is bold, fearless and vital. Expect work that combines lyric intensity with clarity, humour and urgency. No prior poetry knowledge required, just curiosity. A rare chance to encounter some of the most exciting writing today. Curated by the Forward Prizes for Poetry, this special reading brings outstanding contemporary poetry to the heart of Shambala.
Zoë McWhinney is a BSL poet and Visual Vernacular performer based in South East London. She has performed at renowned venues such as The Roundhouse and the United Nations in Geneva and made history as the first Deaf poet published in British Sign Language in Modern Poetry in Translation magazine. Her recent work includes adapting Ilya Kaminsky’s Deaf Republic for The Royal Court Theatre, in partnership with Dead Centre theatre company. In addition to her writing, Zoë works as an actor and director.
