THE AIM of Paris-based theatre company Hippolyte a mal au coeur is to connect with as many people as possible, particularly those with a hearing impediment, and to develop bilingual productions, initially in French and Sign Language.

Now translated into Spanish and English, and showing across the globe, Estelle Savasta’s play tells the tender story of the relationship between Nour (Charmaine Wombwell) and the profoundly deaf Youmna (Nadia Nadarajah), who communicates through sign language and a wonderful visual expressiveness.

A celebration of women and the profound transference of love from mother to daughter, it charts the progress of one gentle girl as she migrates from her own poverty-stricken country to a land of plenty, crossing borders and keeping hope alive through love.