Deaf News: Jonny Cotson and Signkid to produce new films for BBC’s ‘Culture in Quarantine’

Deaf performers Kevin ‘Signkid’ Walker and Jonny Cotson have been commissioned to create new works for the BBC’s Culture in Quarantine initiative, it has been announced.

The project, which launched to mark the 25th anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act last year, sees the arts brought into homes across the UK during lockdown, with past commissions including the radio drama Beethoven Can Hear You, starring Deaf actress Sophie Stone.

Lamia Dabbousy, head of arts at the BBC, said the commissions showcase “the breadth of inspiring work we’ve all missed experiencing over this past lockdown year”.

“I’m thrilled that, as part of Culture in Quarantine, these pieces will be brought to life across BBC platforms.

“It’s imperative that D/deaf, neurodivergent and disabled professional artists are supported to carry on making brilliant work, as the constraints and continuing effects of this pandemic threaten to silence their vital creative voice,” she said.

Signkid’s film Silent World will combine rap, spoken word and the performer’s ‘sign-slang’ to “creatively explore how living in a silent world has intensified” during the coronavirus crisis, while Jonny Cotson will work on the film adaptation of Louder is Not Always Clearer – a play about “a Deaf man’s life journey in a hearing world” which he starred in and co-created.

The commissions were selected by a panel including representatives from the Arts Councils  of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as Creative Scotland, Unlimited and the UK Disability Arts Alliance.

Exact broadcast details for both Silent World and Louder is Not Always Clearer are yet to be confirmed, but the films are due to air in the summer.

Photo: Kirsten McTernan.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is a mildly deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He wears bilateral hearing aids and can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.