This November, Deaffest on Tour will be making its way to London for the Bernie Grant Arts Centre’s Tottenham Literature Festival (TLF) from the 11th to the 17th of November 2024. Following a successful collaboration in 2022, Deaffest is thrilled to partner with TLF for this year’s festival.
The week celebrates Black narratives and showcases the work of Black authors and creatives with the theme of Black Imaginations. Join TLF to discuss, dream, and explore how imagination powerfully transforms stories and realities. TLF invites you to meditate on this quote by Walidah Imarisha: ‘When we free our imaginations, we question everything. We recognise none of this is fixed, everything is stardust, and we have the strength to cast it however we will.’
Throughout the week-long festival, British Sign Language interpretation will be available for the main theatre talks, with a roaming interpreter present during the daytime on Saturday the 16th of November.
D/deaf creatives will open the main theatre talks on Saturday to showcase their incredible art. Stay tuned for updates from TLF and Deaffest!
The Deaffest 2024’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy and Dramatic Arts went to Deaf Comedian & Actor John Smith. This is a worthy tribute to recognise his exceptional talent and significant contributions to both the comedy and dramatic arts within the Deaf community for over 15 years. His ability to blend humour and drama has not only entertained and inspired but has also shone a spotlight on the richness of Deaf culture and the power of representation in the arts. His work continues to break down barriers, offering a profound insight into the Deaf experience while making a lasting impact on audiences.
Born in Newcastle, UK, John Smith is a Deaf comedian, actor, British Sign Language teacher and – watch out – a 3rd Dan black belt in Karate Wado!
Famed for his sense of humour, John made his first stand-up appearance in 2005 and performed at the very first Deaffest in Wolverhampton, UK in 2006. Since then, due to popular demand, John has been performing all over the UK and worldwide including Europe, USA, Australia, and more!
Anyone who has experienced his brilliant brand of comedy will know that John includes in his shows his personal experiences of being Deaf especially in a ‘hearing world’. With references to Deaf-related issues, politics, school life, and more, he has the rare talent of pulling your heartstrings yet simultaneously making you laugh!
Off stage, John has appeared on TV programmes including BBC’s ‘See Hear’, RTE’s ’The Afternoon Show’ and John & Joe Bishop’s ‘Life after Deaf’ documentary on ITVX. Plus, he was interviewed for one of the Deaffest: Rewind episodes – worth a watch if you have not seen this before!
With his experiences and talents combined, John is a gifted actor and is undoubtedly memorable from his acting work with BSL Zone’s ’Still Here’, ‘Four Deaf Yorkshiremen Go to Blackpool’ (and later episodes), ‘Deaf Funny’, and the ‘Coffee Morning Club’ series.
John has been returning to Deaffest over the years, sharing his skills and inspiring visitors of all ages, through his performances and workshops.
Jean St Clair received the Lifetime Award for Outstanding Contribution to Stage and Screen during the 9th Film & TV Awards at Deaffest 2024. This award highlights Deaf Actress Jean’s impactful work in both theatre and film as well as the enduring influence and the inspiration she continues to provide to both D/deaf and hearing audiences. It’s a well-deserved recognition of her dedication and talent in the industry!
Jean St Clair is from East London and is an award-winning actress and a British Sign Language creative consultant for stage, TV, and film.
Jean’s extensive career spans over 50 years, taking her abroad to the USA, Australia, South Africa, and Europe! She has taken on a multitude of roles including actress, BSL consultant, storyteller, presenter, writer, director, and even a whirl dancer (at the 2012 Paralympic opening ceremony!).
In the early years of Jean’s theatre career, she trained and worked with the British Theatre of the Deaf, Australian Theatre of the Deaf, and the National Theatre of the Deaf in America. In the 1980s she took on the lead role in ‘Children of a Lesser God’ in the West End and in the 1990s a variety of roles including acting, storytelling, and presenting for Television including Tyne Tees’ ’Sign On’, BBC’s ’See Hear’ and ‘Hands Up’, as well as featuring in some commercials.
Jean co-produced and starred in Frozen (2014) with Fingersmiths, a visual physical touring theatre which she co-founded with Jeni Draper and Kaite O’Reilly and appeared as Lyapkin-Tyapkin in ’The Government Inspector’ (2016) which was followed by a UK tour. In 2019 Jean performed as Queen Elizabeth for HamletScenen’s Richard III play in Denmark.
Off the stage, Jean has undertaken a variety of acting roles in films including ‘Hands Solo’ which was screened at Deaffest 2009, ’If I Don’t Lose, I’ll Lose’ which is her directional debut, ’Signs of an Affair’, ‘The Banishing’, ‘Veneer’, and in series such as ‘Deaf Funny’, ‘Four Deaf Yorkshire Men’, and ‘Coffee Morning Club’ which was premiered on Film4 in 2023. (You can catch a glimpse of Jean in an episode of the Crown Court series (1982) here!)
Since the early 2000s Jean has taken on the role of BSL consultant, utilising her valuable skills and knowledge of stage, TV, and film. Her work includes BBC’s ’Silent Witness’, ‘Eastenders’, CBBC’s ‘Horrible Histories’ (series 9), ’The Strays’ film, Mutt & Jeff Pictures/BSLBT’s ’Small World’ series, and lately Disney’s animation ‘Little Mermaid (BSL)’.
Jean is no stranger to Deaffest, contributing her valuable time and expertise at previous festivals. She was one of the judges on the panel for Deaffest 2009’s Film & TV Awards as well as for the Visual Vernacular Competition at Deaffest 2013. She was also one of the panellists for both the Women Filmmakers and BSLBT seminars at Deaffest 2015.
Jean was previously nominated for Deaffest 2015 Film & TV Awards’ Best British Film and Best Director for ‘If I Don’t Lose, I’ll Lose’ and nominated for Deaffest 2017’s Best Screenwriter and Best Actress for ’Signs of an Affair’.
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