Paula Garfield Artistic Director Expand Paula Garfield Paula Garfield is the Artistic Director of Deafinitely Theatre. An actor, director and field creative leader, Paula has worked on a variety of television, film and theatre projects over the past twenty years. In 2002, she established Deafinitely Theatre with Steven Webb and Kate Furby after becoming frustrated at the barriers that deaf actors and directors face across the arts and media industry. Paula has produced and directed many plays and worked extensively in TV, including Channel Four’s Learn Sign Language, Four Fingers and a Thumb, BBC’s Hands Up and Casualty, plus appearances in every series of the BBC’s deaf drama, Switch. Her previous productions for Deafinitely Theatre are many and include: Tanika’s Journey (Southwark Playhouse), Grounded (Park Theatre), a national tour of the family show, Something Else. Paula has directed two productions at Shakespeare’s Globe: Love’s Labour’s Lost as part of Deafinitely’s 10th anniversary celebrations, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Paula’s 2017 production of Contractions for Deafinitely Theatre won The Off West End Theatre Award (Offie) for ‘Best Production’, and her production of 4.48 Psychosis at New Diorama Theatre in 2019 was shortlisted for Best Director by Broadway World UK. Paula was also awarded the Tonic Award for her work at Deafinitely Theatre. Through the coronavirus pandemic, Deafinitiely Theatre provided 26 creative bursaries to support the development of freelance deaf artists. Throughout lockdown, Paula directed the five Deafinitely Digital films that made up the Talking Hands series, a collaboration with Paines Plough, as well as writing Everyday, Deafinitely Theatre’s 20th anniversary production, which premiered at New Diorama Theatre before embarking on a national tour in 2022. Everyday was nominated for The Off West End Theatre Award for Best Accessible Production. In 2023, Paula is directing a one night performance of The Vagina Monologues, raising money for Deaf-initely Women’s ongoing work to support deaf and deafblind survivors of domestic violence. She is also working with The Pied Piper Company on a new touring family show, Can Bears Ski? as well as Deafinitely Theatre’s next full production, The Promise; a story about a deaf mother living with dementia.
Frankie George Executive Director Expand Frankie George Frankie studied at the University of Kent at Canterbury and graduated with a Masters in Creative Producing in 2008 before going on to work at the Donmar Warehouse Theatre under Michael Grandage and later with Josie Rourke. In 2012, she moved to the Michael Grandage Company and worked on such productions as Privates on Parade, Peter and Alice, The Cripple of Inishman, A Midsummer Nights Dream and Henry V in the West End. In 2014 she moved to the Flying Music Company where she worked as Senior Production Coordinator on shows such as Thriller Live - West End, on tour and globally. In 2015, she decided to move away from the commercial sector and return to her roots in subsided theatre and specifically for community arts. Deafinitely Theatre was the perfect opportunity and she now works closely with the company’s Artistic Director to deliver the artistic, operational management, social inclusion aims and the delivery of the Theatre’s activities.
Sophie Flack Projects Manager Expand Sophie Flack Sophie joined the Deafinitely team in September 2021. Her previous roles include: Programme Manager at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich and Project Producer for the Ramps On The Moon consortium. Sophie began learning sign language whilst working on the first regional theatre tour of The Who’s Tommy in 2017. Having produced and delivered many different projects and productions over the years, Sophie continues to develop her experience with creative access and believes that theatre should be accessible for everyone. Sophie is studying BSL Level 6, living in Ipswich with her two cats.
Dilara Earle Youth Coordinator Expand Dilara Earle In 2007, Dilara won the Young Film Critic of the Year (sensory-impaired category) - founded by filmeducation x National Film Schools Week Award - and promoted the competition at the House of Commons during publicity campaigns. She went on to study a BA in Digital Film and Television at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly RSAMD). During her university years, she volunteered for the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) and also wrote for Cochlear Implanted Children’s Society (CICS), British Association for the Teachers Of the Deaf (BATOD) and other publications. After extensive solo travels in Asia and Australasia, when she worked for Deaf Aotearoa and wrote for travel blogs to champion travelling with a disability, she moved to Bristol in 2018 to work at the BBC with See Hear, as a researcher. She now splits her time between Bristol and London.
Jasmine Whipps Communications Officer Expand Jasmine Whipps Jasmine Whipps (Jazzy) is a deaf content creator in the UK. The main aim of her online content is to spread positivity about life as a deaf person and enable hearing people to find out more about deaf awareness and sign language. Jazzy has worked in TV with a number of brands in commercials, as a presenter and a performer. She is very passionate about working with brands to raise deaf awareness. She has completed acting training with The National Youth Theatre at Rose Bruford in 2022 and The Access to Acting Course 2022 at RADA. Working at Deafinitely Theatre, Jasmine is a Communications Officer, undertaking a variety of tasks; editing videos (using her experience editing videos since 2015), action DT’s social media presence, including promotion of events, productions, and activity as well as relevant industry news.
Catalina Corbett Administrator Expand Catalina Corbett Catalina graduated from Florida international university in 2015 with a degree in Recreation and Sports Management. Since graduating Catalina has volunteered on a number of small theatre productions and is currently on the board of the Florida Deaf Art Show as a Communications Coordinator. Catalina works as a freelance photographer capturing all of life's special events.