Meet… Kate Labno
Kate, you’ve been our BSL interpreter on both The Mystery of the Raddlesham Mumps and now The Chronicles of Atom and Luna. How did you start off in BSL?
I was 18 and very unsure as to what I wanted to do for a career – I was working temporarily in admin but feeling very uninspired. I decided to sign up to an evening class to keep myself busy and randomly chose BSL. I loved it and after three years of studying level 1-3 I made the decision to go to the University of Central Lancashire to complete a degree in BSL. Signing up to that evening class was the best thing I ever did!
You work as a BSL interpreter in so many different ways. Could you give us a flavour of how and where you work?
Yes – a working week for me can vary greatly! I interpret regularly for a Deaf senior social worker in children’s services, a Deaf Cyber security expert in a big bank, at police interviews when Deaf people have committed or been a victim of crime and on screen interpreting for ITV. If you can imagine where a Deaf person may need to go on a day to day basis then I will often be found interpreting for them. My favourite area to work in though is theatre and the arts and as well as interpreting for theatre I regularly work at music festivals and concerts interpreting songs for singers and bands.
And you must have a funny story or two along the way to share?
I have many but none that would be suitable for children….!
Why is BSL so important?
For a long time Deaf people have not had access to theatre and arts in the same way we hearing people have. I think it’s every persons right to be able to enjoy the theatre and to feel welcomed and so including BSL in projects, shows and performances really opens up new worlds to Deaf people. BSL is such a beautiful language it compliments theatre and arts tremendously and it is key to expose people to it when they are enjoying theatre so that it becomes the new normal!
So what’s different ...if anything, about your work in theatre and tv and your day to day BSL interpreting?
Interpreting in theatre and TV is very different as I have a script beforehand. With theatre I usually have access to rehearsals and the planning stages also which is very helpful. Translating and working with language and scripts is one of my favourite things!
Day to day interpreting is completely different – sometimes I arrive to a booking with very little idea of what will happen and what I will be interpreting. For example with police interviews – you very rarely get full details before hand and so have to expect the unexpected!
How has lockdown affected your work?
Nearly all of my work now is online. So, if I have a meeting with the social worker and the police it is all done through zoom. I am very lucky that I have been able to continue most of my work online but I do miss working with real humans! My theatre and arts work is slowly creeping back as people try to make everything more accessible. Hopefully it won’t be too long until I’m back on stage doing what I love best!
And what are you looking forward to most as The Chronicles of Atom and Luna unfolds?
I am looking forward to learning more about Atom and Luna and seeing their characters develop – with the help of the children at home of course. The characteristics tell me how to sign for each character so I’m very excited to see them come to life.
