1S1 Theatre Launches “I Am Puff”, Leading Deaf Representation in Canadian Children’s Media
Today, our team is so excited to share I Am Puff, 1S1 Theatre‘s first digital adaptation in collaboration with Why Not Theatre. The first three-episodes of this animated series pilot is created by an international Deaf-led team, guided by 1S1 Theatre’s Artistic Director Dawn Jani Birley. The live-action and animation web series incorporates both American Sign Language and spoken English and is accessible to both Deaf and hearing children—one of the first of its kind in Canada.
Watch the pilot episodes of I Am Puff online for free.
A vibrant, colourful introduction to Deaf culture, the character Puff communicates differences, diversity and acceptance. Dawn adapted the character (originally written by Deaf writer Salla Fagerström in 2013 for Teatteri Totti in Finland) for a digital platform as a way to engage children across the world during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read about the creation of I Am Puff from Dawn’s interview with the Regina Leader-Post.
“It has been amazing to watch Dawn lead the way for 1S1 Theatre - a company dedicated to creating work at the intersections of the Deaf and hearing worlds, from a Deaf-led perspective. Dawn is a powerful artist and a tireless advocate for D/deaf-rights. Through I Am Puff and other 1S1 projects, Dawn is using her artistic platform to make the change she wants to see in the world. Why Not is thrilled to be supporting Dawn and her company to reimagine what art is made in our country and who is leading it.”
–Miriam Fernandes | Why Not Theatre Co-Artistic Director
“Deaf-led projects by culturally and linguistically Deaf professional artists are so rare in Canada. I Am Puff is one wonderful example of what I would like to see more of in the Canadian entertainment landscape. In order to build authentic bridges of intercultural exchanges between Deaf and hearing communities, it is vital for Deaf artists to have a say -- or be empowered and supported in telling our own stories -- rather than being portrayed in ways we have been systemically perceived. If our intrinsic Deaf value can be recognized and respected, we can then stand together to create much-needed changes in our society. Deaf children deserve the same chance to grow and flourish into contributing citizens.”
–Dawn Jani Birley | 1S1 Theatre Artistic Director
For Why Not, I Am Puff is one of many Deaf-led projects in development with 1S1 Theatre, as part of our SHARE stream of activities and a longstanding commitment to d/Deaf and hearing collaborations. Our SHARE programming stream is designed to help artists and collectives overcome barriers to creating and disseminating work, through resource sharing, producing, financial, and administrative support.
I Am Puff was made possible by support from the Digital Originals grant, an initiative of the Canada Council for the Arts.
