Anne Zander, James Boyle, Sophie Leigh Stone, Ace Mahbaz
Billed as the world’s first Deaf thriller, Ted Evans’ Retreat – performed in British Sign Language – is a gripping, atmospheric work that consistently upends expectations.
When Eva (Anne Zander) arrives at an isolated retreat for Deaf people in the English countryside, she’s looking for belonging and connection. Set on a sprawling estate and run by the enigmatic Mia (Sophie Stone), the retreat prepares residents for the harsh realities of a hearing world. But Mia’s methods – part boot camp, part spiritual doctrine – quickly raise questions. What exactly are people being prepared for? And why does no one, including long-time resident Matt (James Joseph Boyle), ever seem to leave?
Evans brings insight and lived experience to this chilling story, building tension through silence, gesture, and the weight of withheld knowledge. Ambitious and immersive, Retreat centres Deaf subjectivity on its own terms.