Steven Vevers-Webb: The success of ‘BUP!’ a deaf-friendly Arts and Storytelling Festival in Kent

Here at D-Live! we were so excited to bring the BUP! Festival to Kent. This was the first ever Arts and Storytelling Festival for deaf children, adults and their families in Medway back on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd October at Sun Pier House in Chatham. And the great thing was, it was all FREE to attend and participate in!

The idea for BUP! came from D-Live! – We are a theatre company led by deaf people creating workshops and productions for families with deaf members of any age.  We want to create environments where a deaf child can go to an arts workshop with their hearing sibling and their hearing parents. Or where deaf parents can bring their hearing children or a deaf child can come with their deaf aunt or uncle!

It feels vital for us to create spaces in Kent where deaf children and adults can come and enjoy activities equally.The BUP! Festival was the first step in us creating a community hub in Medway with regular events. Our aim is to hold BUP! every two years and grow it further each time we present it.

So what does “BUP!” mean? We actually created the British Sign Language sign first and then translated the word in to English. The sign represents lots of people coming together in a space and this is what we want to achieve with this festival. We want to see deaf and hearing children and adults coming to a shared space and participating in events equally.

We’re so grateful to have been supported in this event by Medway Council as well as other fantastic local community partners to hold this event.

The weekend saw participants being able to join in on arts workshops, drama activities, watch some films, watch some magic or even just hang out in a comfortable space with other families that have deaf members.

It’s so important that there are events like this one to bring children and their families together. Our workshops are led by deaf artists with British Sign Language interpreters there too so in future we hope you can come along to the next ones as we really hope to continue to get families to enjoy free festivals!

Christopher Sacre, director of SEE and CREATE and co-founder of BUP! Festival, also comments,

“I’m delighted that the BUP! Festival arrived in Medway. As the director of SEE and CREATE I’m passionate about all creative events becoming BSL inclusive and accessible for all, and for deaf people to truly be placed on an equal footing with others. The success of this festival will be a starting point for a future where current and emerging deaf creative talents are recognised and celebrated in Medway and beyond.”

D-Live! have worked with Deaf children, adults and families in Medway for the last four years to promote literacy in both BSL and English language. The company has conducted this through a series of art and drama workshops led by Deaf creatives.

For more information please see https://www.d-live.org.uk/