Leigh: I am an emerging actor, described as raw talent on stage, working with Rinkoo Barpaga on his Unlimited R&D “Bubble & Butch.” I will bring Urban Sign Language to a position of prominence; it’s a language created in the urban suburbs and cities like Derby, Brixton and Handsworth. It’s a visual language, with a unique vocabulary used by people of colour.

I have worked as an actor for several years and have written and directed short films with BSLBT. I become fascinated with the directing process and have moved into a director’s role when devising ensemble work with Ad Infinitum, specifically on the productions of ‘Light’ and ‘Extraordinary Wall of Silence’. Deaf actors and sign language is getting increasing recognition within the theatrical community, however I believe that much of the representation currently on stage lacks substance and is tokenistic. Deaf actors and sign language is getting increasing recognition within the theatrical community, however I believe that much of the representation currently on stage lacks substance and is tokenistic. Having Deaf parents and family and entrenched in the Deaf community my whole life, I am concerned that there is still a lack of strongly cultural and linguistically Deaf people making new work and getting cast in plays.

I am a Muslim, Deaf and BSL (British Sign Language) user. I am also a writer, theatre maker, filmmaker & YouTuber. I am currently a Presenter for BSL Zone, run by British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust.I am a Trustee of the Deaf Ethnic Women’s Association (DEWA) and a keen kickboxer.

I am a Bristol based professional actor in film, theatre, and television drama and working as a film/TV presenter. I founded VS1 Production in 2007, a flourishing company that has broken new ground in terms of featuring British Sign Language (BSL). I am also an actor in Ad Infinitum acclaimed ‘Extraordinary Wall of Silence.’ I have talked about my intersectionality as a gay, black, Deaf man with Lynn Stewart-Taylor and have recently been commissioned by Ad Infinitum and HOME to make a short film of my BSL poem Liberty. 

I am a Deaf Iranian artist. My work explores the barriers I encounter in everyday life, being Deaf, female and a refugee. I communicate through my artworks, combining feminism and cultural politics. My aim is that my jewellery has a story. As both an artist and a narrator, I depict the wearer’s character through the jewellery I make. The primary material that I use to create jewellery is human hair, though recently I have been exploring ceramic materials.After completing my MA at Birmingham City University in 2017, I became a political refugee as my work, ‘The Politics of Voice; The Tale of Tresses’ directly challenged the patriarchal society in Iran. I was recently offered one of four commissions by ArtReach for Journey’s International Festival to produce a performance art film for JFl 2020.

I am Ishtiaq Hussain, from the Black Country, West Midlands. I am a Visual Vernacular artist and a British Sign Language teacher in the West Midlands. I am very passionate about BSL and love meeting and socialising with Deaf people. I attended Wolverhampton University to study Deaf Studies and Drama. I am currently working with Creative Black Country initiating a successful Spirit of 2012 project developing creative workshops for the Deaf community.

Image: A white man with curly brown hair and brown eyes, hiding behind a black and white cat.

Paul Bock has blagged his way into DadaFest; purporting to be a BSL interpreter and has provided ‘translations’ for the Deaf Explorer collective. A hearing audience, listening to Paul’s translations will be baffled, but possibly duped into believing that these are accurate translations. Will the hearing audience interrogate these translations? Will they understand that it’s not just enough to invite a Deaf diverse artist into a project; to really understand a Deaf artist you will have to make the effort to learn about the language and culture of the Deaf community.

Paul Bock was created by Ben Rufus Green, an actor, writer and comedian. He recently played series regular, David Cockfield, in ‘The Cockfields’ on Gold for UKTV and was in ‘GameFace’ and ‘Eastenders.’ Previous credits include: ‘Alan Partridge ‘Scissored Isle’, ‘Not Going Out’ and ‘Sherlock.’ He has also appeared as another cowboy interpreter in BSLBT commissioned series: Deaf Funny.