Comedian's Deaf Parents Shaped His Unique Upbringing

Comedian Ray Bradshaw is bringing his new show, "Coda," which explores his experiences growing up as a child of deaf adults (CODA). Bradshaw, who has been a prominent stand-up for 16 years, found his unique childhood perspective became a rich source of material. He noted that he didn't realize his upbringing was unusual until he spoke with others.

To foster inclusivity, Bradshaw has made it a practice to have a sign language interpreter at his shows. He shared an anecdote about a deaf grandmother attending his performance with her hearing children and grandchildren, marking their first family outing to the theatre. This gesture underscores his commitment to making live comedy accessible to the deaf community.

"Coda" delves into personal memories, some long forgotten, unearthed through conversations with his parents, Jill and David, and siblings. Bradshaw humorously recalled his parents using a radio in his room at night to help him learn spoken language, though they were unsure if it was even tuned to a station.

His identity as a CODA has significantly shaped his confident personality. Bradshaw was the first professional comedian to stage a show in both English and sign language, choosing to establish his comedic credibility before integrating deafness into his act. He felt it was crucial not to let his background seem like a gimmick.

Beyond comedy, Bradshaw is a passionate football fan, working with the Scotland national team and his beloved Patrick Thistle. He is also anticipating the birth of his second child, which coincidentally falls on the same day as a Scotland match, adding another layer to his current life events.