Eleanor Craik tells us about Norfolk’s Deaf Festival, which returns this weekend!

Hi! I’m Eleanor Craik, I was diagnosed with a progressive hearing loss when I was 3 and got a cochlear implant at 27 years old which changed my life in many ways. I adore musical theatre and long dog walks. I am also a Teacher of the Deaf in Norfolk and really enjoy meeting children with hearing loss and they enjoy seeing my hearing dog Indy! I am the chairperson of the Norfolk Deaf Festival.

When I first became a Teacher of the Deaf in 2017, I realised that Norfolk was missing the opportunity for deaf people to connect with each other. Norfolk is very rural county and it was difficult to see children, often the only deaf person in their family, feeling very isolated and not realising there were people just like them.

Along with Claire Gebbett, a Communication Support Worker, the idea evolved into a festival where the deaf persons whole family and friends network could come along and be inspired and learn. We now follow our 4 E’s:

Equality – access to information, services and the arts for all deaf people.
Empower – meet deaf role models and learn new skills
Educate – signpost deaf and hard of hearing people and their families to available resources.
Everyone – bring deaf and hard of hearing people and their families/friends together.

The very first Norfolk deaf festival was created in a matter of months and with very limited funds. It was just one Friday. We learnt so much from this festival such as finding funding pots, generating more income via raffle tickets etc in order to pay for deaf artists to come.

At the first festival Chris Fonseca, a deaf dancer came to do a workshop on the day with all of the attendees. By the third festival we were able to pay for him to do a separate workshop before the festival to create a piece to perform there. we now run our festival over two days to accommodate those who work in the week or want to bring their families.

We want the festival to host events throughout the year, not just on the day and attendees always want to come again! In the past we have had poetry readings and workshops with Raymond Antrobus and Globe Theatre, dance workshops with Chris Fonseca and comedy with John Smith.

We have also had theatre productions with Harriet Martineau – a deaf lady from the past who lived in Norwich – who is an advocate for women and slavery and did not let her hearing stop her – this is a message we are keen to pass on – deafness is not a barrier, anything you want to do, you can do it!

This years festival has a theatre production about the oceans and how they are becoming ‘seasick’, it will be interactive with sound umbrellas. We’ve also got Polly Dunbar, the illustrator of Can Bears Ski reading the book and also teaching us how to draw bear.

Luke Christian is also attending to talk about his life and give some deaf people the chance to model his clothing ‘deaf identity’ and keep it afterwards! Terry, who is deaf, will show us some circus skills too. We have so much going on, come and join in!

To ensure the festival runs smoothly we have a committee of wonderful volunteers, all of whom have a range of experience with deaf people or are deaf themselves as well as parents of deaf children too. All of our volunteers give up their free time to support this fabulous festival.

I hope those attending the festival feel hope for the future, with better awareness and a sense that they are not alone in the rollercoaster of life. I would like to see many more festivals for deaf people and their families!

I would like to see more opportunities to celebrate deaf role models, access for deaf people to try new things and identity support available and more deaf awareness for all surrounding them. Whatever your hearing loss, you are not alone!

This years Norfolk Deaf Festival takes place in Norwich on 8th and 9th July. Follow news of the festival on social media for updates and programme info @norfolkdeaffestival

The Limping Chicken’s very own Rebecca will be at Norfolk Deaf festival delivering sign song and mindfulness workshops too!