Flarewave Festival
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Programme 2025
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Flarewave Festival - Programme 2025 -
Photography Exhibition Deaf Mosaic
Exhibition held from 3rd September to 21st September 2025.
Deaf Mosaic is a unique photography exhibition of deaf role models. In his intimate portraits, deaf photographer, Stephen Iliffe shares a vital message: ‘with the right support, deaf people can do anything’.
Stephen’s portraits range from female vicar to hairy biker, deaf-blind athlete to fairground traveller, charity leader to fashion model. Each has their own story to share with us.
The exhibition displays 51 portraits.
Seafront Gallery, 54 Kings Rd, Brighton BN1 2HJ
Deaf Community Fair
Explore stalls in a beautiful Unitarian Church and discover deaf and hard-of-hearing artists, businesses, organisations, and charities.
Church St, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1UE
Unitarian Church
FRIDAY
05/9
3:30pm to 7pm
SATURDAY
06/9
9:30am to 6pm
Come along to discover and support deaf and hard-of-hearing artists, creative businesses, and a variety of organisations and charities.
Find them all at our beautiful venue opposite the Dome, which is the main venue of Flarewave Festival.
There is a lovely seating space inside the church where you can relax, chat, and eat!
Are you a deaf or hard-of-hearing artist, small business, charity, or organisation? Join Flarewave Festival to sell your work or promote your services in this fantastic space opposite the Brighton Dome.
Deadline for applications: Friday 8th August 2025
Day 1
THURSDAY
04/9
44-47 Gardner St, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1UN
KOMEDIA
Flarewave Launch Night
Join us on Thursday 4th September, from 6pm to 11pm at KOMEDIA.
We’ll be premiering brand new films, and you’ll be our very first audience. Don’t miss this opportunity!
There will be panels with filmmakers and talents from the deaf community.
Door open at 6pm, with the opening ceremony starting at 6:30pm sharp. Please note: This event is 15+ only.
BUBBLY & CANAPES PROVIDED
(NON-ALCOHOLIC BUBBLY INCLUDED!)
Afterparty at the bar until the venue closes at 11pm.
We’ll be sharing the full programme soon, so keep an eye out!
Grab your ticket now!
05/9
Day 2
FRIDAY
THE OLD COURTHOUSE
118 Church St, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1UD
Talks & Panels
ARTS & ACTIVISM – special guests include
9:30am
Tea/ Coffee Networking
Dr John Walker: Deaf Dissidence
As a field of human geography, geographers observe how spaces can influence our behaviours and how we shape spaces around us. There is school of thought that says we are all ‘free’ to move as we wish when, in reality, our differently shaped ‘bodies’ draws us closer to specific spaces. Our sense of self is a ‘performance’ of behaviours that manifest into a cultural identity. As Deaf people, we do this frequently and differently.
As well, we are intersectional and multifaceted beings navigating between spaces where we belong and where we don’t. We all have our own journeys to a place where we can flourish; finding that sense of self, or being true to oneself, is Deaf Dissidence. A concept we need to sign (or talk) about.
10am
Ryan Commerson: Self-Activate a New World
Framing is the invisible hand of culture—it shapes what we see as possible, who we believe is valuable, and how change becomes imaginable. Artists are the architects of ideology, wielding media as both mirror and drumbeat to disrupt old narratives and activate new frames of liberation. When we take control of the frame, we don’t just tell new stories—we create new worlds.
11am
Lunch
1pm
Visual Arts Moderator – Cathy Mager
Visual Arts Panellists - Maral Mamaghanizadeh, Christopher Sacre, Omeima Mudawi-Rowlings
2pm
Literature Moderator – Louise Stern
Literature Panellists - Sarah Marsh, Samantha Baines, Mysteries & Magic – (to be confirmed)
Influencers Moderator – Marios Costi (Able Sign)
Influencers Panellists - Hermon and Heroda (Being_her), Jazzy Whipps, Mysteries & Magic – (to be confirmed)
3pm
4pm
Music Moderator – Ruth Montgomery
Music Panellists – WaWa, Chris Fonseca, Rachel Edmonds
Ryan sum up today’s panels.
4:45pm
5:15pm
Talks & Panels closed
Reserve your space here
CORN EXCHANGE
Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1EE
Last Rites:
A boundary- breaking show for all
Join us on Friday 5th September, from 7:30pm to 9pm at CORN EXCHANGE
Door open at 6:30pm, with the performance show starting at 7:30pm sharp. Please note: This event is 15+ only.
Grab your ticket now!
Day 3
SATURDAY
06/9
29 New Rd, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1UG
STUDIO THEATRE
Step into the world of powerful storytelling where silence speaks volumes. Reel Resonance brings together a bold selection of deaf-led films from the UK and around the globe—stories of identity, isolation, resilience, and reunion.
10:30am - Opening
11am - Panel start
The day opens with a thought-provoking panel discussion on Activism in Film, featuring deaf filmmakers who will share their personal journeys and how they use the screen to spark change and amplify underrepresented voices.
REEL RESONANCE: Stories That Sign
Global Deaf Perspectives on Screen
Eremos Trilogy (Director. Sam Arnold & Producer. Sam Ash)
11:45am
A dark comedy-drama exploring the theme that lies at the heart of the Eremos Trilogy, a dark comedy-drama anthology of three short films. Each film follows a different deaf protagonist as they navigate isolation within modern society, exploring challenges unique to the deaf community
(Winner of Multiple Awards and Nominations)
The moving true story of Lawand, a Deaf refugee, void of any language or a true sense of self, he seeks belonging and identity in a new land.
Me Name Lawand (Director. Edward Lovelace)
1:30pm
(Premier Screening in the UK)
A poetic reflection on friendship, after four long years, three pairs of friends reunite, each hoping that time has stood still. But the pandemic and its aftermath have deeply changed their lives, and hidden truths are now surfacing. In this fragile reunion, they must ask themselves the profound questions: "Who am I, and who do the others think I am?"
Salt & Pepper (Director. Con Mehlum, Producer. Michel Laubacher)
3:30pm
All screenings include post-show Q&A sessions with filmmakers and will be fully accessible with British Sign Language (BSL) and International Sign (IS) interpretation.
Book your ticket here
THE OLD COURTHOUSE
118 Church St, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1UD
VV Poet & Sonic Patterns Sound Art Workshop
VV Workshop with Jamila, Amina & Zoe:
Visual vernacular is somewhere between mime and visual BSL storytelling. In this workshop the 3 VV poets will share tips and techniques through games, improvisation and exercises, to have fun and expand your visual poetry and storytelling skills! By the end of the workshop you will go home empowered with some knowledge and skills to create and tell a powerful short story that any signer in the world could understand and enjoy!
Reserve your time slots here:
Sonic Patterns Sound Art with Ruth Montgomery and Chris Wight
Join us for an interactive visual art and sound workshop where sound frequencies make particles move and form beautiful geometric patterns — and take your own print home!
Chris Wight is excited to collaborate with Ruth Montgomery at the Flarewave Festival, where they will lead an interactive workshop sharing this unique and immersive work with new audiences.
More about Audiovisability:
It’s a charitable organisation that brings the highest quality of music and musical opportunity to deaf people through teaching and outreach projects. We work with deaf role models, using sign language and visual resources to ensure full access to music.
More about Chris Wight:
He is a ceramic artist who combines traditional skills with new technologies to create highly technical pieces at various scales. His current work harnesses the Sonic and Acoustic properties of fine bone china to design vibra-tactile plates that explore sound movement and visualisation through vibration.
Reserve your time slots here:
Church St, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1UE
ANITA’S ROOM
Drop-in workshops - all ages welcome
Flarewave Festival are proud to be working together with Christopher Sacre at SEE&CREATE – why not join us to share your creative ideas at these drop-in activities with Fiona Barclay and Becky Bailey!
Sign Art workshop: Gesture & Expression
Drop in to explore sign art using your hands and gestures to express your message for the world. Learn how movement and shape can create visual stories that speak up for deaf and signing communities, adding your unique sign art piece to our growing collective artwork.
Word Art for Change workshop
Join us to create bold, colourful word art on cardboards sharing the message you want heard to improve experiences for deaf and signing people. Use words, colours, and textures to turn your activism into art, adding your voice to a festival display for change
All welcome, no booking needed. Just drop in anytime and materials provided!
More about SEE and CREATE:
Based in Chatham, Kent, multi awards winning SEE and CREATE was established in 2016 to provide a comprehensive on-line listing of the best deaf-accessible, family-friendly creative events, and delivers an exciting programme of fun, creative events fully accessible in BSL and spoken English.
SEE & CREATE - Art Making Activities
Christopher Sacre - Lead Art Facilitator
Becky Bailey - Art Facilitator
Fiona Barclay - Art Facilitator
Come and bring your creativity along too!
Reserve your time slots here:
Royal Pavilion
4/5 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1EE
BSL Tours
Deaf-led Tour: Royal Pavilion and COLOUR Exhibition with Ally Rogers
Explore the Royal Pavilion in a new light with a free deaf-led tour of Brighton’s most iconic landmark. Led in British Sign Language, this unique experience offers a rich and engaging journey through the Pavilion’s extraordinary architecture and lavish interiors.
The tour includes entry to the COLOUR exhibition, running from 21 March to 19 October 2025, which celebrates the beauty and emotional power of colour. Wander through rooms transformed by bold palettes, immersive installations, and artistic storytelling that bring the Pavilion’s history to life.
There will be two tours on Saturday 6th: 11am and 2pm. Each tour lasts 1 hour. 10 spaces per tour - book your place now to avoid disappointment!
Please note: the COLOUR exhibition is spread over both floors – the ground floor is accessible, but there is no lift to the upper level.
Meet point at the front of Royal Pavilion about 15 minutes before the tour start.
Reserve your time slot here:
The Old Ship Hotel, 32-38 Kings Rd, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1NR
Old Ship Hotel
Discover Deaf History with Peter Brown
Join Peter Brown for a special BSL tour and re-enactment of an important moment in deaf history. In 1815, Abbé Sicard and his team showed people in London and Brighton how they taught deaf students using sign language.
We will bring this event back to life. We want to show how deaf history shaped BSL, and how sign language gave deaf people access to education.
The BSL Act now recognises our language, but our history is just as important. Come and learn, be inspired, and help us keep Deaf history alive.
Meet point at the outside of Old Ship Hotel about 15 minutes before the tour start.
Reserve your time slot here:
CORN EXCHANGE
Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1EE
Finale Fusion: A Night of Voices, Vibes & Celebration
Comedy, Visual Vernacular, Music, Immersive Performance. One Unforgettable Night
Get ready for a high-energy evening that brings it all—laughs, lyrics, rhythm, and raw emotion. Finale Fusion is the ultimate variety performance and closing celebration that promises something for everyone.
Door open at 7pm, with the performance show starting at 7:30pm sharp. Please note: This event is 18+ only.
Line-up Highlights:
7:30pm – Laugh out loud with stand-up by Nadeem Islam (Fuse Theatre)
9:00pm – Dive into the immersive 5 Columns with poetry from Zoë McWhinney, and Swedish duo Jamila & Amina Ouahid
9:30pm – Experience the gripping performance of Born To Die by Fuse Theatre
10pm – Feel the beat with a signed rap performance from WaWa (USA)
11:15pm – Don’t miss the explosive finale collaboration between Fuse Theatre and WaWa!
Afterparty at the bar until the venue closes at 1am.
Expect the unexpected—bold artistry, powerful messages, and a party atmosphere to close out the celebration with a bang.
Moona Mohammed
MC / Event Host
MC / Event Host
Stephen Collins
Nadeem Islam
Jamila & Amina
Zoe McWhinney
Chris Fonseca
Harry Jardin
Wawa
Performers:
Bring your energy. Bring your friends. Let’s go out on a high.
Book your ticket here
Day 4
SUNDAY
07/9
CORN EXCHANGE
Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1EE
Deaf Rave DJ Taster Workshop!
Experience the Future of DJing at the Deaf Rave DJ Taster Workshop
Music is a universal language, and at Deaf Rave, we believe that everyone should have the chance to experience the thrill of DJing. Whether you’re deaf, hard of hearing, or hearing, our DJ Taster Workshop is designed for anyone who wants to feel the music, explore cutting-edge technology, and have a blast behind the decks!
What’s in Store?
At this exciting hands-on workshop, we’re introducing the latest in DJ innovation to make music more accessible and immersive than ever before:
Pioneer DJ Controllers & Software – Experience professional DJ equipment powered by Alpha Theta technology on Apple MacBook laptops.
Woojer Vibration Backpack – A game-changer! This amazing backpack lets you feel the bass and beats through vibrations, bringing a new sensory experience to DJing.
Inclusive & Interactive – No experience? No problem! Our friendly team will guide you through the basics, so you can mix, scratch, and create your own beats in no time.
Everyone is welcome! No matter your age or experience level, this workshop is open to all. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a music enthusiast, this is your chance to try something new and exciting!
Who Can Join?
Feel the Music Differently – With vibration technology, DJing becomes a whole-body experience.
Learn from Experts – Get hands-on experience with professional DJ gear.
Have Fun & Connect – Meet like-minded people and explore the world of DJing in a welcoming environment.
Join Us! Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to spin the decks, feel the beats, and experience DJing like never before!
Why You Should Try It
Come along and be part of the Deaf Rave revolution!
Reserve your time slot here:
Church St, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1UE
ANITA’S ROOM
The Feminist Journey Through Art
Exploring Gender, Power, and Creativity
Deepa Shastri
Workshop Host
Join us for a powerful session of conversation and insight as we navigate the challenges of working in a male-dominated world through the lens of art. This thought-provoking panel discussion brings together influential voices from across the creative industries to confront gender inequality, amplify underrepresented perspectives, and reimagine the future of representation in the Arts.
“Let’s challenge the status quo—together.”
Reserve your time slot here:
29 New Rd, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1UG
STUDIO THEATRE
Let’s Share: Men to Men
Wellbeing, Expression, and Connection Through the Arts
David Ellington
Workshop Host
Step into a supportive and inclusive space created exclusively for men to explore personal wellbeing through artistic expression. Hosted in partnership with SignHealth Charity, this event invites open conversation, shared experiences, and honest dialogue around what it means to be well in today’s world.
Featuring a panel of guest speakers and thought-provoking discussion, we’ll explore how the arts can inspire healing, connection, and strength.
“Your voice matters. Let’s talk— man to man”
Reserve your time slot here:
67 Middle St, Brighton and Hove, Brighton, BN1 1AL
YOGA IN THE LANES
Let’s Unwind
Everything is provided for you: yoga mats, bolster, blocks and also two towels for your use for the sauna etc. All you need is to bring yourself and swimming suit / shorts.
Join me for gentle and unwinding yoga and finish with a sauna / cold tub / bath in the heart of Brighton! A perfect ending to your fun weekend with Flarewave!
Meander through the famous Brighton Laines and then turn down a hidden alleyway for a relaxing yoga session in the upstairs cosy studio. Penny Hall (@deafyogacircle) will reflect a few highlights of the Flarewave weekend and explore a few simple poses to enable the mind and body to completely unwind!
After yoga, we shall step into an exclusively reserved Finnish style sauna situated in their pretty courtyard, dip into the cold tub or lay in the bath! We repeat this cycle of contrast (hot/cold) therapy creating a powerful cardiovascular response that helps your body clear inflammation, improve flow of oxygen, and revitalise tired muscles! We will experience a sense of aliveness and joy!
£35 per person, Maximum 12 people due to the size of the yoga studio and the sauna.
This includes 1 hour of yoga, and 1 hour of sauna / cold therapy
Booking time: 4pm to 6pm