Graeae artistic director Jenny Sealey made OBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours List

Deaf director Jenny Sealey, artistic director of the Deaf and disabled company Graeae, has been awarded an OBE for “services to disability arts” in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Jenny, who received an MBE in 2009, recently became the first Deaf director of a major opera when The Paradis Files opened at the Southbank Centre in April.

Commenting on her being made an OBE, Jenny told The Limping Chicken: “I was stunned to get this award. For me it is important to point out that this OBE is dedicated to my awesome Graeae team who have worked creatively with passion and commitment through the last two years.

“Together we share the joy of continuing our journey of making theatre and paving the way for an accessible future for the next generation of Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists.”

The latest honours come at the start of a four-day bank holiday to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and 70 years of her being on the throne.

It has also been revealed ahead of her official birthday on 11 June.

Other individuals honoured on the list include deafScotland convenor Donald Richards (BEM); RNID volunteers Barbara Lewis (MBE), Gerald Knight (BEM) and Dr Brian Caul (MBE); Deaf and partially blind campaigner Will Ogden; and Cambridgeshire Hearing Help volunteer Roger Hill (BEM).

The full honours list can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Photo: Henri T.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.