Overcoming the odds

Buy photos » Rachel Ratibb (Annie Sullivan) teaching sign language a young Helen Keller (Indianna Long). (s)

THE MIRACULOUS story of the deaf, blind and mute Helen Keller is brought to the stage by Leamington's Loft Theatre.

The Miracle Worker, running from January 25 to February 4, tell how the young American's life was changed completely with the arrival of a new teacher.

That teacher was a young but determined Annie Sullivan – herself partially sighted. Joining the Keller’s Alabaman household in the 1880s, when Helen was six-years-old, their relationship was to last a lifetime although its beginnings were truly stormy.

Annie discovered a spoilt, out-of-control, feral child. Born with all her senses, Helen had lost sight, sound and voice aged 18 months as the result of an illness - probably scarlet fever.

Annie has to impose discipline, establish a relationship and eventually begin to teach young Helen to communicate.

And thanks to Annie’s grounding, Helen went on to Radcliffe College gaining a BA and later worldwide recognition.

While carrying out background research for the play, director Mary MacDonald discovered the phrase ‘dark silence’.

She said: “This description seems so evocative of the multi-sensory deprivation suffered by people like Helen Keller, and gives some idea of the world in which she lived before the events of The Miracle Worker took place. SENSE, the UK’s leading deafblind charity states that in the UK today, some 356,000 people suffer from multi-sensory deprivation.”

Requiring a large and strong cast, including several children, casting was challenging.

“We could not ask a seven-year-old to play the demanding role of Helen and we were fortunate to cast sisters Alisha and Indianna Long, to share the role of Helen and I’m delighted to have so many other young actors in the company. Our Annie is Loft favourite Rachel Ratibb."

William Gibson’s play is based on Helen Keller’s autobiography The Story of My Life.

For tickets visit www.loft-theatre.co.uk or call 0844 493 4938 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.