We are thrilled to announce today that the amazing Rose Ayling-Ellis will become our Deafinitely Youth Theatre Patron!

Rose is a deaf actress and activist for better deaf representation and rights, she started her acting journey with Deafinitely Youth Theatre in 2013 before going on to join our professional training programme, HUB.

You might know her from her breakout role as Frankie in Eastenders or as the winner of Strictly Come Dancing where she included tribute to the deaf community with a dance that won the Must-See Moment Award at BAFTA and included a special visit to our youth theatre!

Watch our Artistic Director, Paula Garfield’s full announcement below

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Rose says: “I am delighted to become a Patron of Deafinitely Youth Theatre, a fantastic charity that is so special to me, and supporting the work they do is important to me. DYT, under the direction of Paula Garfield, was my first experience of deaf performing arts and I loved my time there. It provides such as exciting opportunity 14–21-year-olds to take part in drama activities, attend live theatre, meet other deaf young people and learn about getting involved in theatre. Without DYT, so many deaf young people would have limited opportunities to explore or develop their sense of deaf identity. DYT believed in who I was as an actress and who I could be, which is something I want for generations of aspiring deaf actors and theatre makers in the years to come.”

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Every year we support over 100 deaf young people to take part in free, fun and accessible theatre opportunities.

Rose's support will help us bring more attention to the importance of providing creative spaces for deaf young people to develop their deaf identities and to help us to carry on nurturing generations of brilliant deaf talent on our stages for years to come.

If you are interested in helping to support us as a small charity continue the work that we are doing with talented deaf young people, please consider making a donation to us