The provision of the in-vision sign language interpreter in television drama is a growing area of demand as programme makers fulfil their obligations to provide sign language interpreted programmes. Sign language interpretation of television drama is a unique interpreter-mediated event. Unlike translators of the dramatic text into subtitling, dubbing, etc., sign language interpreters are required to present their translations ‘live’ in the moment the actors perform the original, in addition to ‘playing’ each character.
In-vision interpreters must be aware that their presence on screen presents a second moving image, separate from the fictional world on screen, and therefore competes for the attention of the viewer. This forces the Deaf audience to negotiate two competing points of focus, and the interpreter to negotiate the plurality of simultaneously occurring visual information.
This paper explores how the interpreter must negotiate the interaction of these visual images (the programme and the interpreter) and allow the audience to see both the visual target language and the screen, and how these elements combine to create the semiotic web of the programme. It also proposes a model for the translation and interpretation of television dramatic texts into sign language. Research shows that, on the whole, in-vision interpreters are failing to demonstrate an awareness of the polysemiotic nature of the audiovisual medium, or to show a true understanding the genre in which they are working, and that further research and training is needed if in-vision interpreters are to meet the needs and expectations of the target audience.

Alex MCDONALD is a regular sign language interpreter at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre and Contact Theatre, and has 12 years’ experience as a British Sign Language interpreter, and graduated, in 2006, from the University of Leeds with an MA in Interpreting English-British Sign Language, specialising in Media Arts and Theatre. Since graduating in 1991, with an MSc in the Management and Implementation of Development projects, Alex has had a varied career. A founding member of Skirmish! Circus Theatre he has toured with Commotion, Running Horse, and New Breed theatre companies and has 15 years’ professional performance experience.