In order to work around the lack of opportunities, I began using stand-up comedy to experiment in getting myself back on stage and finding what I was comfortable with.

Unfortunately, comedy can be a little one dimensional for anyone with a protected characteristic. I found if I did discuss deaf issues, I was met with ignorant ‘what-what-what’ heckling. When I joked about people saying ‘I don’t look deaf’ and answering I DO look deaf (as I look like other deaf family members) I was stopped coming out of the toilets in the break by a drunk man insisting I DIDN’T look deaf.

After this, I stuck to developing ‘Owt bar an Office’ about work place experiences instead.

But the question remained how do I show a different version of the deaf experience?

Enter Graeae stage left: I had an idea of what I wanted to create but didn’t know the routes to make it happen.

With support from Laura, Manishta & Jenny (from Graeae), I began to understand the HOW that was needed as well as the skills to develop to get the best possible how.

By developing a one person play albeit it bilingual, I’m stretching myself in different directions and thoroughly enjoying working it all out. I’ve been finding some elements more difficult than others as there seems to be no set way to create a play!

As I said at the beginning, my life has changed dramatically, I have now left full time work in procurement thanks to a successful DYCP and Project Grant from Arts Council England.

I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into the creative process to create Inheritance Tax and hope it is successful in showing a different perspective on being deaf to as many people as possible.