Comedian Ray Bradshaw Draws on Upbringing with Deaf Parents for New Show Coda

Ray Bradshaw, a 37-year-old stand-up comedian from Glasgow, has developed a new comedy show called Coda inspired by his upbringing with deaf parents, Jill and David. As a child of deaf adults, known as a CODA, Bradshaw did not initially recognize the uniqueness of his family situation. He only became aware of it later when comparing experiences with others.

During his childhood, Bradshaw was referred to a speech therapist to assist with hearing spoken words, which he considered a normal part of life. The show draws from conversations with his family, including siblings Pamela and Mark, which resurfaced forgotten memories. These discussions highlighted challenges related to communication in the household.

Bradshaw began performing stand-up at age 20 after trying it while intoxicated.

Over the next six years, he established his career without incorporating his family background into his routines to avoid it being perceived as a gimmick. His first inclusion of the topic occurred during a run at the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh. For several years, Bradshaw has employed a sign language interpreter at his shows to accommodate deaf audiences.

He recounted an instance in Bradford where a family, including two deaf grandparents and hearing relatives, attended a performance together for the first time. The show Coda tours various locations in the country. A speech therapist recommended that Bradshaw keep a radio on in his bedroom at night to expose him to spoken language.

His parents complied, though they could not verify if the radio was tuned to a station due to their deafness. Bradshaw learned of this detail from his mother during recent family talks. The tour returns to Glasgow this Saturday at the SEC Armadillo, with Bradshaw's family attending.

He anticipates his parents will appreciate parts of the show while questioning others. Bradshaw views his experiences as a central aspect of his identity, contributing to his confidence from early interactions with adults.

Bradshaw was the first professional comedian to present a show in both English and British Sign Language.

He has performed on comedy panel shows and toured with comedian John Bishop, including at London's O2 Arena for 11,000 people. Additionally, Bradshaw works with the Scotland national football team and Partick Thistle, his supported club. The show addresses shared experiences among other CODAs, such as difficulties with phone interactions for services as children.

Bradshaw's career spans 16 years as one of Scotland's prominent stand-up performers.