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  • Our history
  1. Who we are
  2. Our history

Our history

In 2002 Paula Garfield founded Deafinitely Theatre alongside Steven Webb and Kate Furby having become frustrated with the barriers deaf actors and directors faced in mainstream media. 

Deafinitely Theatre celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2017 and were the first deaf launched and deaf-led theatre company in the UK that works bilingually in British Sign Language and spoken English, producing work that caters to audiences of all ages. 

Company Timeline

Deaf Histories 
2002
  • Paula Garfield established Deafinitely Theatre with Steven Webb and Kate Furby.
Dysfunction
2002 - 2005
  • 2002  Loss - Oval House Theatre
  • 2003 Two Chairs - Oval House Theatre
  • 2003 Motherland - Jackson’s Lane Theatre & Oval House Theatre
  • 2003 Vagina Monologues - Cochrane Theatre
  • 2004 Dysfunction - Oval House Theatre
  • 2004 Children of a Greater God - Jackson’s Lane Theatre
Playing God
2005 - 2010
  • 2006 Dysfunction - Soho Theatre & National Tour
  • 2006 Deaf Visual Stories - Soho Theatre
  • 2007 Playing God - Soho Theatre & National Tour
  • 2007 Deaf Visual Stories - Unicorn Theatre                                                   
  • 2008 Lipstick & Lollipops - Drill Hall & National Tour
  • 2009 Double Sentence - Soho Theatre
  • 2009 Deafinitely Shorts - Drill Hall
  • 2010 Double Sentence - Drill Hall & National Tour
  • 2010 Deafinitely Shorts - Drill Hall
  • 2010 The Boy and the Statue - Tricycle Theatre
The Boy and the Statue 
2010
  • Deafinitely Little family shows first production The Boy and the Statue premieres at the Tricycle Theatre.
  • Deafinitely Theatre's youth programme is formed accepting young people whatever their communication methods, to come together and have access to drama training.
Love's Labour's Lost 
2011
  • Deafinitely celebrates its 10-year anniversary with the first-ever British Sign Language production of Shakespeare at the Shakespeare’s Globe, with our production of Love’s Labour’s Lost

Tanika's Journey
2012 - 2013
  • 2012 Tanika’s Journey - Southwark Playhouse
  • 2013 The Mobile Phone Show - Peckham Theatre, Platform & Soho Theatre
  • 2013 4Play - Park Theatre
  • 2013 Tyrannosaurus Drip - Stratford Circus, Latitude Festival & School’s Tour
  • 2013 Two - Southwark Playhouse
A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
2014
  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Shakespeare’s Globe
Grounded 

2015 - 2016
  • 2015 Grounded - Park Theatre, London
  • 2015 Something Else - National Tour
  • 2016 Blackout - Stratford Circus & Tricycle Theatre
Contractions

2017 - 2018

  • 2017 You - Stratford Arts Centre
  • 2017 Something Else -National Tour & West End
  • 2017 Contractions - New Diorama Theatre
  • 2018 Deafinitely Theatre win the Off West End Award for Best Production - Contractions 
  • 2018 4.48 Psychosis - Old Diorama Theatre 
4.48 Psychosis

2019 - 2020

  • 2019 Gargantua - City Lit 
  • 2019 Horrible Histories Dreadful Deaf - Tour
  • 2019 4.48 Psychosis Revival - Old Diorama Theatre & National Tour
20 x Deaf Freelancers Bursaries
2020 - 2021

  • Deafinitely Digital x 4 productions online to 9500 viewers
  •  CRF Funding for 20 x Deaf Freelancers Bursaries
  • Multiple accessible online panel/Q&A events
  • Equity Guide - https://www.equity.org.uk/media/4342/bsl-guide-v2_proof1.pdf
 

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  • Be a part of our history by volunteering
  • Help us to continue making history by becoming a Friend or supporting us

Published: 17th March, 2016

Updated: 28th October, 2021

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Deafinitely Theatre is a registered company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England no: 05371228. Charity no: 1111526.

Deafinitely Theatre, PO Box 1160, Wembley, HA9 1LQ