Deaffest

John Smith is an internationally recognised Deaf comedian and actor with more than 21 years of experience performing across the UK and worldwide. Celebrated for his vivid visual storytelling, expressive physicality, and sharp observational humour, he creates work that effortlessly bridges Deaf and hearing audiences through British Sign Language (BSL) and dynamic stagecraft.

In 2024, John received the Outstanding Achievement in Comedy & Dramatic Arts Award, recognising his exceptional contribution to performance and his long-standing commitment to advancing Deaf representation within the creative industries. In 2025, he further cemented his reputation as a leading voice in contemporary Deaf comedy by winning Best Solo Comedy (Den of Laugh) at the Leicester Comedy Festival.

His screen and stage credits include BSL Zone’s ‘Still Here’, ‘Four Deaf Yorkshiremen’, ‘Deaf Funny’, and ‘Coffee Morning’. His performances are widely praised for their authenticity, cultural insight, and ability to connect with diverse audiences nationally and internationally.

In May 2026, John returns to Deaffest as Master of Ceremonies (MC), continuing his strong association with the UK’s leading Deaf-led Film & Arts festival.

With over two decades of international touring, John Smith remains an influential and respected figure, championing Deaf creativity, visibility, and access through his work.

London-based Jean St Clair is an award-winning actress and British Sign Language (BSL) creative consultant working across stage, television, and film.

She has enjoyed an extensive international theatre career, performing throughout the USA, Europe, Australia, South Africa, and Denmark. Jean made history as the first Deaf British actress to perform in London’s West End, starring in ‘Children of a Lesser God’ – a landmark moment for Deaf representation in mainstream theatre.

Her screen work has received significant acclaim. She won two Best Actress awards at France’s Deaf film festival, Clin d’Oeil: one for the short film ‘Still Here’ and another for her performance in the black comedy ‘Signs of an Affair’, which she also wrote. She later followed this with ‘Veneer’. She was also nominated for Best Supporting Performance at the UK Theatre Awards for her role in ‘The Meeting’ at Chichester Festival Theatre.

Her stage credits include ‘In Praise of Fallen Women’, ‘Frozen’, ‘The Government Inspector’, ‘Richard III’, and ‘The Process’. On screen, she has appeared in ‘The Banishing’, ‘Deaf Funny’, ‘Four Deaf Yorkshiremen’, and ‘Coffee Morning Club’.

Alongside acting, Jean works as a BSL consultant on major productions, championing authentic Deaf representation. Her consultancy credits include the BBC’s ‘Doctor Who’, ‘Silent Witness’, ‘EastEnders’, ‘The Chelsea Detective’, and the feature film ‘The Strays’.