The third edition of Cornwall Mini Deaffest took place in St Austell and Par on the International Day of Sign Languages.
The biennial festival began on Saturday the 23rd of September 2023, welcoming deaf and hearing visitors of all ages, who travelled a range of distances to attend Cornwall College to take part in the action-packed event, which included a stalls fair, Deaffest on Tour film screenings, workshops, and entertainment!
“It is fantastic that Cornwall Mini Deaffest is back again, with thanks to the support of the individuals and organisations involved – including Zebra Uno, FEAST, SignVideo, and Devon & Cornwall Police. Like our previous festivals in 2018 and 2021, Cornwall Mini Deaffest gave visitors an opportunity to learn about Deaffest, gather valuable information from stallholders, watch Deaffest on Tour’s latest films, and participate in accessible workshops. Young visitors also had the opportunity to meet Deaf role models such as Deaf Mime Artist DeafMimo (a.k.a. Stephen Robinson), Actress and former CBeebies’ Magic Hands Presenter Donna Mullings, Captain Smithy (a.k.a. Stephen Smith), among the other deaf professionals that were involved in the festival!” – Marilyn Willrich, Co-Founder of Deaffest.
During the Saturday daytime event (which took place at Cornwall College in St Austell), volunteers including Jackie and Manda Woodburn were brilliantly hands-on in their role of attending to the visitors, working with volunteers, and running the tombola, which had a lot of exciting prizes on offer thanks to generous donations from individuals and organisations. Adorned with banners from the entrance down to the hallway, stallholders were occupied with their stalls whilst greeting visitors and catching up with faces old and new.
A BSL storytelling session for children led by Donna Mullings took place in the morning, in which both DeafMimo and Captain Smithy joined by storytelling and engaging with the young visitors! A presentation by Devon & Cornwall Police took place, providing valuable information about their services, which visitors were able to access via a BSL interpreter. Visitors also had the pleasure of checking out the cool police car parked outside of Cornwall College! Later, participants of different ages donned bowler hats, glasses, gloves, and props whilst enjoying learning the art of Mime with DeafMimo!
Councillor Crystal Pearce, Mayor of St Austell, arrived at the festival and was greeted by the founders of Deaffest, Nikki Stratton and Marilyn Willrich. The Mayor of St Austell had the pleasure of taking a tour around the festival and later gave a speech in The Keay Theatre, prior to launching Deaffest on Tour’s film screenings, some of which have received nominations at other festivals!
Walkabout entertainment at the festival led by DeafMimo and Captain Smithy kept visitors, including the Mayor of St Austell, amused throughout the afternoon! Whilst Captain Smithy walked around using pirate lingo, DeafMimo debuted one of his performances with his orangutang (the little pal doesn’t have a name yet but watch this space to find out what it’s going to be). Other visual delights were also on offer outside the College by way of a fire engine! Visitors had the opportunity to ask firefighters questions, take a seat in the fire engine and even switch on the siren lights!
Before the end of an eventful day, a further two workshops took place in the afternoon. SignVideo presented the importance of BSL 999 to attendees, and a fun Drama Studio session was led by Donna Mullings, who is known for her involvement in Love’s Labour Lost, BSL Zone’s Supersonic, and CBeebies’ Magic Hands. The young visitors enjoyed learning from Donna, especially the traffic lights activity.
“With the Cornwall Mini Deaffest event falling on the International Day of Sign Languages, and the International Week of Deaf People, this was an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of such events globally. Since the passing of the BSL Act in 2022, we have witnessed an increase in collaborations between deaf and hearing professionals where British Sign Language is incorporated on screen and at live performances. Deaffest continues to champion the ever-increasing profile of deaf talents across media and arts industries and the importance of inclusion and equality for everybody, including deaf filmmakers, actors, visual artists, and performing artists, whilst simultaneously preserving Deaf culture and heritage.” – Nikki Stratton, Co-Founder of Deaffest.
As nightfall approached, Cornwall Mini Deaffest moved from St Austell to Par, in a pirate themed marquee at the Britannia Inn. Prior to the founders of Deaffest Nikki Stratton and Marilyn Willrich welcoming visitors, Captain Smithy entertained guests by interrogating them on DeafMimo’s whereabouts. Nikki and Marilyn introduced the MC for the evening: Donna Mullings – who did a wonderful job of hosting the festivities!
A Deaffest showreel was screened, with interesting facts to give the audience visual insight into the International Deaf Film & Arts Festival, especially with Deaffest’s 15th anniversary approaching in 2024.
The Question & Answer session focused on the purpose and importance of providing a platform for Deaf filmmakers, actors, visual artists, and performing artists, and how the Deaffest team works together. Visitors engaged with team members about how the UK’s leading Deaf-led Film & Arts Festival could be supported (i.e. fundraising, sharing information, etc.), as well as discussing the opportunities available for the younger deaf generation, and Deaffest’s future aspirations.
Both Captain Smithy and DeafMimo did a surprise performance together – with Captain Smithy finally capturing DeafMimo, taking him onboard, and ordering the upset landlubber to clean his ship! The humorous show ended with Captain Smithy finding his coffer, but to his dismay the treasure (in the form of chocolate coins) was given away to the attendees by the kind-hearted DeafMimo.
Thanks to those who generously donated gifts to the lucky dip! The evening tickets included a free raffle with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes up for grabs, leaving three lucky people very happy! Before the memorable evening concluded with a ‘drink up, me hearties’, MC Donna Mullings and Co-Founder of Deaffest Marilyn Willrich surprised visitors by dressing up as pirates and joining in with the entertainment, leaving the audience amused!
Cornwall Mini Deaffest 2023, hosted by Zebra Access CIO, would like to thank the individuals and organisations who supported the festival, including Zebra Uno, FEAST, SignVideo, Devon & Cornwall Police, Cornwall College, The Britannia Inn, BSL interpreters, volunteers, stallholders, workshop leaders, MC, performing artists, and visitors.
The next Deaffest event will be the main festival, taking place from the 10th to the 12th of May 2024 in Wolverhampton – celebrating the festival’s 15th anniversary! Add the date to your calendar and come along to the International Deaf Film and Arts Festival! You can keep up to date with our news by subscribing here to receive our e-newsletters.
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