Multi award-winning Deaf performance artist Vilma Jackson is launching a new chat show featuring an all-star selection of Deaf panellists.

I am Black, Deaf, and a woman. Each of these on their own present barriers but together they place me in a small minority

Vilma Jackson

Opportunity and representation have always been lacking in the film industry. Whilst Vilma has been building a career performing on screen and stage, she is aware that the lack of opportunity and mainstream attention towards the Deaf community, plus the lack of representation of the Black members of the Deaf community does require acknowledgement, debate and action.

‘The Vilma Jackson Show’ is filmed in two episodes. The first will be released on March 11 and will highlight the talent within the hearing and Deaf community, and the barriers to their progress within various industries.

The second will be released in later in March and addresses the wider debate around diversity, inclusion and equality to highlight that these issues do not only apply to the Hearing world; they run deep into the Deaf community and every corner of our Society.

Vilma said, “This project is incredibly personal to me and I am so proud to be able to share it with the world.”

“I am Black, Deaf, and a woman. Each of these on their own present barriers but together they place me in a small minority.

“When I was growing up, I was fascinated by the TV and the stars performing on it. I was fascinated by Marx Brothers and Charlie Chaplin (who was not actually deaf) but I never saw anyone like me; Black, Deaf and a Woman. Things are improving, but very slowly and I want to highlight these issues for both hearing and Deaf people.

“It’s so important to me that people of all backgrounds have role models in life and feel they can do anything they choose. As well as promoting diversity amongst the guests on my show, I have also employed a diverse production crew too.

“These jobs are not easy to secure for those with hard of hearing or Deafness, and that needs to change.”

The development of ‘The Vilma Jackson Show’ has been funded by the Arts Council England.

This is Vilma’s second commission by the Arts Council. Her first was called ‘Triple Oppression’, which is about Vilma’s struggles, aspirations and successes growing up as a Black, Deaf and Woman.

Like the Vilma Jackson Show, this was written and produced by Vilma herself and can be viewed here – Triple Oppression. 

Triple Oppression was critically acclaimed and won four awards including Los Angeles Film Awards, New York Film Awards, FilmCon Awards and Festigious International Film Festival.

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