Jacqui Beckford

How far in advance do you receive scripts or lyrics to prepare?

If I am doing a theatre show, my standard prep is a minimum of two weeks in advance. If it is a musical, I prefer three or four weeks because I have other work, which means I have to schedule learning songs and the script around that. I also ask for any footage of the show or rehearsals beforehand. If the show has a short run, I go into rehearsals towards the end and ask to record the dress rehearsal and work from that. I then see the show live once in situ before the interpreted show. However, if it is a show where I am integral to the performance, I join in during rehearsals with the cast and am blocked in by the director.

Tell me about working at the Breakin’ Convention?

It is a beautiful beast and an anomaly for me. I have to draw on every skill I have acquired over my career – my toolbox is wide open. Some international artists fly in just a couple of days before to do their tech, so I have to figure out which acts or performances are scripted. If it is a dance piece, does the music have lyrics that carry the narrative and therefore need interpreting?
There isn’t a tradition of using interpreters for some of the artists or the countries they come from, and if you say interpreter, they often think of spoken-word interpreters rather than sign language. When I arrive at Breakin’ Convention, I’ll know what 
I will be dealing with is quite often last minute with little-to-no prep. I need to be ready in case there is suddenly a poem in the piece or an uttering of words that move the narrative on that are important for the audience.
The tech team are brilliant and will have a spotlight on me with a moment’s notice, and I will run up on to the stage. It’s about balancing the stage, as the dance is what people have come to see, so I don’t want to draw or pull focus – I have to be sensitive.

What challenges do you face with being an interpreter?

A few barriers are if a company doesn’t allow me enough time to prep, books me last minute or does not respect remuneration for my skills. I have to sit down for a few days to translate, look at a video for speed and intonation, and then do a run-through. When I arrive to perform the interpreted show, it is my tech rehearsal, dress run, first night and last night all-in-one. Some people just don’t get that. 

CV: Jackie Beckford

Training: Stage I and II BSL at the Southwark Adult Education Institute (1989-90); Stage III BSL at City Literary Institute (1993); Interpreter Training Programme  at Royal National Institute for Deaf People (2000-03); postgraduate diploma at UCLan (2003-04)

Beckford will be interpreting at Breakin’ Convention from April 29-30. breakinconvention.com