Deafinitely Theatre have announced they have been awarded £273,675.00 from The National Lottery to help fund the Deafinitely Youth Theatre Programme over the next five years. Founded in 2010, Deafinitely Youth Theatre is led annually by deaf industry leaders, providing opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing young people aged 14-21.
The programme’s alumni include Eloise Pennycott, William Grint, Claire Wetherall, and Patron Rose Ayling-Ellis MBE. This funding will enable the company to continue offering this free youth theatre development programme. Paula Garfield MBE, Artistic Director of Deafinitely Theatre, stated, “We are thrilled to receive this vital multi-year funding from the National Lottery Community Fund. Our programme is the UK’s leading opportunity for deaf young people to explore creativity, engage with theatre, and showcase their talents. Without support from grants like the National Lottery Community Fund, this wouldn’t be possible. This support means so much to us and will empower many deaf young people through creative opportunities for years to come!”
Deafinitely Youth Theatre is the only specialist programme of its kind, fully accessible to deaf young people, offering many their first chance to explore the performing arts and connect with peers in a safe, welcoming environment. It provides training for the next generation of deaf leaders while helping participants build confidence and social skills from an early age.
So far, the programme has supported over 400 young people through residential activity weeks, theatre skills workshops, stage productions, theatre trips, mentoring, work experience placements, and Arts Award qualifications. Eloise Pennycott, DYT alumni 2019, said, “I participated in Deafinitely Youth Theatre in 2019/20 and have since begun my professional career as a writer for theatre. They have been wonderfully supportive in my transition to an emerging creative, and it is heartening to work with a company that puts deafness and sign language at the heart of theatre.” Jude Powell, a current DYT member, added, “My time with Deafinitely Youth Theatre has deeply influenced my life, improving my acting skills and confidence, and expanding my networking opportunities. Deafinitely Youth Theatre will always hold a special place in my heart as a fantastic company!”
In 2002, Paula Garfield established Deafinitely Theatre alongside Steven Webb and Kate Furby after becoming frustrated with the barriers that deaf actors and directors face in mainstream media. The company launched with a sell-out première of Deaf History at the Gate Theatre in London. In May 2012, the company performed the first British Sign Language Shakespeare play at the Globe Theatre, Love’s Labour’s Lost, celebrating its 10-year anniversary. In 2018, Deafinitely won the Off West End Award for Best Production for its site-specific production of Mike Bartlett’s Contractions, and in 2019, Paula Garfield received a Tonic Award for her energy and unwavering commitment to opening theatre up and for the artistic quality of the work Deafinitely Theatre presents. The company celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022 with the world premiere of Everyday. The company’s vision is a world where deaf people are a valued part of the national theatre landscape, recognised for the excellence of their work. Deafinitely Theatre is the first professional deaf-launched and led theatre company in the UK that works bilingually in British Sign Language and spoken English, producing work that caters to audiences of all ages.
https://www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk
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