Step into the extraordinary life of Francis Maginn, pioneer of the Deaf community in Ireland and Britain during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with this heart-felt drama Call to Adventure – The Life and Travels of Francis Maginn, written by hearing writer Charis McRoberts and Deaf writer/actor Paula Clarke.
This engaging ensemble performance charts Maginn’s journey, beginning with his experience of scarlet fever as a boy, which left him profoundly deaf at the age of five.
Follow his fight as a pioneer for the rights and education of the Deaf community across Ireland and Britain. Witness him confront the controversial ban on sign language decided at the 1880 Milan Congress and his founding of the British Deaf Association (BDA).
Lyric Theatre Belfast and NI Tour 2026