It wasn’t until Jodee Mundy was five years old and lost at Kmart that she realised the rest of her family was Deaf. She didn’t see ‘disability’ – only the love and protection of those closest to her.

In Personal, she conveys her experience as the only hearing person in a Deaf family, through a captivating blend of performance, storytelling, multimedia and animation. Mundy delves into the contradictions of inhabiting two worlds: living in a Deaf family, where using sign language is natural; and living in a society that sees only the family’s disability with voyeuristic curiosity.

The role children of Deaf adults play in paving the way for their family – as interpreter, authority, conduit – is central to this very intimate story. Created with a talented team of collaborators and presented in two languages via a virtual interpreter, Personal is a smart, touching and deeply personal work exploring dis/ability and how we perceive one another.

★★★★★ “Personal doesn’t discriminate. Inviting deaf and hearing audiences alike. This is a notable and important example of where access is not part of the performance, access is the performance.” Arts Hub

★★★★ “Jodee Mundy’s Personal is a winning and inclusive tonic, consistently hilarious and informative.” Time Out

“Personal, aside from a triumphant piece of performance and live theatre, does something special; it bridges divides, it removes, within this context, “us” and “them”. Not often does theatre, despite the best of intentions, achieve such heights” Melbourne Critique

“This rewarding, compelling work brings deaf and hearing a little closer together both literally and through its delicate and sharp insights – crisply and clearly presented.” Stage Whispers

“This is strong autobiographical theatre with a fascinating story, and ingenious visual and sound design that implicates the senses.” The Age

“Throughout Personal, Mundy shows us that her family is unique only because it traverses the line between two worlds; otherwise, it is like any other family – filled with laughter, frustration, anger, joy and love.” Theatre Press

CREATIVE TEAM
Writer & Performer – Jodee Mundy
Director – Merophie Carr
Set & Lighting Design – Jen Hector
Sound Design – Madeleine Flynn and Tim Humphrey
Video Design – Rhian Hinkley
Script Dramaturg – Sandra Fiona Long
Movement Consultant – Jo Dunbar
Auslan Translation Consultant – Gavin Rose-Mundy
Production Manager/Operator – Alice Pollard

Presented by Jodee Mundy Collaborations and Critical Stages Touring

Personal is supported by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, it’s arts funding and advisory body, the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, and the NSW Government through Create NSW.