Deaf Gathering Cymru is a deaf-led festival in Cardiff created by Chapter Arts Centre and deaf artists and creative access consultants Jonny Cotsen, and Heather Williams. Taking Place from 5-8 September 2024 and open to everyone, the four-day celebration builds on the success of last year’s Deaf Together and offers a dynamic programme of culture and conversation with deaf perspectives at the centre.
This event is by and for deaf people, but hearing people are also warmly welcomed. The programme is supported by BSL, live captions and simultaneous translation from BSL to English.
Deaf Gathering Cymru brings you four days of events, activities, conversations and performances, with everything from yoga to theatre, a symposium to open mic comedy night! Most of the events are free to attend as we want to keep this festival accessible and welcoming to everyone!
On Thursday 5 September, we kick off the celebrations in the evening with a drumming performance in our caffi bar. Following last year’s sell-out show we’re also delighted to welcome back comedian Gavin Lilley who’ll deliver his hysterical stories about language, life and culture through the beauty of sign language. With live captions and voice over interpretation, Gavin’s cheeky humour can be enjoyed by deaf and hearing audiences alike.
On Friday 6 September, we’re hosting Deaf Gathering Symposium, providing an opportunity to share conversations about why inclusion matters, deaf wellbeing, the importance of Welsh deaf role models and more. Key notes will be presented by Sara Rhys Jones, Ruth Montgomery, Shaun Fitzgerald and Levi Slade. This day of conversation will be followed by our very own Deaf Dragons’ Den with the chance to pitch your business ideas to a panel of ‘expert’ judges including Gavin Lilley, Jonny Cotsen, Shaun Fitzgerald, Rubenna Aurangzeb-Tariq and Sara Rhys Jones, hosted by Heather Williams.
Day two also features Chapter MovieMaker, a showcase of short films made by deaf filmmakers. In our Seligman Theatre, The Rest of Our Lives by Jo Fong & George Orange, tells the story of an old clown and an old dancer who are negotiating middle-life together with humour, tenderness and outlandish optimism. The performance features integrated BSL interpretation with Katie Fenwick.
Saturday sees a busy day with our deaf-led marketplace, audiovisability workshop with Ruth Montgomery, BSL-led gallery tours with Our Visual World, Gavin Lilley comedy workshop, Deaf Cinema Club hosted by Heather Williams, and your chance to try your hand at live comedy in our Open Mic Night. We’ll round off the evening with DJ Tyler in our caffi bar.
Sunday takes a mellow approach with the chance to participate in a range of relaxing, creative activities including Sarah Marsh’s book club, Deaf Yoga with Emma Callaghan, art workshops with Alex Miller and Vicky Barber-Crimes, a fantastically messy and hilarious performance from OftheJackel Theatre! and much, much more…
Tickets are added weekly. To stay in touch, please follow Deaf Gathering Cymru on socials @deafgatheringcymru or sign up to Chapter’s newsletter here: https://www.chapter.org/
Deaf Gathering Cymru is generously supported by Arts Council Wales, SignHealth, Cadwyn, CCHA, Eversheds Sutherland, Linc and Tai Pawb.
Full schedule:
Thursday 5 September
5.30pm Drinks reception
6pm Drumming performance
7.30pm Gavin Lilley Comedy
Friday 6 September
10am-3pm Deaf Gathering Symposium
3.30pm Deaf Dragons Den
6pm Deaf MovieMaker
8pm Jo Fong & George Orange:The Rest of Our Lives
Saturday 8 September
11am-5pm deaf-led stalls
11.15am BSL Gallery Tour
12.15pm BSL Gallery Tour
1.30pm Gavin Lilley Comedy Workshop
3.30pm Artists presentations and roundtable discussion
5pm Deaf Cinema Club with BSL interpreted film
8pm Open Mic in the caffi bar
8.45pm DJ set in the caffi bar
Sunday 9 September
10am Dinner Table Syndrome with breakfast
11am Art Workshop
11.15am Jonny Cotsen book reading
12pm Book Club with Sarah Marsh
1pm Splat! outdoor performance for all the family
1.30pm Deaf Yoga with Emma Callaghan
2.45pm Art Workshop with Vicky Barber Crimes
5.30pm Film Screening of Extraordinary Wall of Silence + discussion led by David Ellington
Photograph: Mareah Ali (2023)