Written by Hazel Garfield-Lichy

I joined Deafinitely Youth Theatre in 2024 October to 2025 February, and again in 2025-26. Honestly, it was a thrilling experience. I didn’t have much prior experience in theatre, I had only performed in school plays and that was it. By the end of February, I had performed in front of a large audience. Of course it was nerve-wracking, but I overcame it, thanks to what DYT taught me.

When I arrived at my first workshop in October 2024, I really didn’t know what to expect. I met a lot of new people, and made new connections with people that I would’ve never met if it wasn’t for DYT. After several workshops, I had learnt so much acting skills and stage talents. I learnt how to do VV, how to be immersed into a character, how to use the stage effectively and everything I needed to know about theatre.

After learning all of these useful skills, it was time for us to come up with a production. All the actors involved, with help from DYT staff, created a play from scratch - beginning to ending. It was certainly an inspiring experience, seeing our ideas being formed on stage. We had an intense rehearsal week during the February half term where we rehearsed our lines, movements and props to prepare for the final show.

Before we got on the stage, everyone was having the nerves but we kept reassuring each other that everything would go smoothly, and it did. We showcased months of our hard work and creativity on stage to an actual audience and it felt so rewarding to see our ideas come to life. It felt bittersweet when it ended, I knew I would miss this for another year.

My advice to anyone that is aged 14-21, join DYT!

Try it at least once, and if it’s not your cup of tea, that's okay - at least you tried! Joining DYT gave me so much experience that I could’ve never gotten anywhere else as a deaf young person.

It is definitely a useful stepping stone for deaf novice actors, or any young deaf people who want to work in the media industry as it opens doors for future opportunities. You don’t only learn about acting, you see behind the scenes of theatre - the production work, writing, lighting, sound, captions, design and the list goes on. It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to be an actor in the future, it still gives you valuable experience, builds your confidence, and who knows? It could change your life.

➔ find more about deafinitely youth theatre!