DaDaAwards Nominations 12
Barry Fitton
Barry Fitton left school at the age of 15, went to work in a cotton factory and stayed long enough to buy a sleeping bag, rucksack and a pair of boots. First the British Isles including Oxford with the Blackfriars poets, then Europe, still screaming his poems at every one who would listen, then overland to India/Greece/Ibiza/Scandinavia.
Returning to England he fell ill with narcolepsy. He awoke at last and moved to Holland, where he has spent the last 6 years performing his poetry, and organised "The free International poetry festival" and the "Dutch Connection Tour", which now helps with Event Events to bring UK poets to Holland & vice versa (including the yearly "Fiery Tongues Festival" at Ruigoord, a 4 day International poetry Festival).
mans face with hat glasses and beard singing underr red stagelights
Jez Colborne
Professional actor and multi-talented singer, pianist, harmonica player and composer also known as JC Jamma. He has a long list of musical accomplishments including being the first ever winner of the European Disability Song Contest (2003).
Jez is an actor with the UK's leading theatre company working with learning disabled artists, Mind the Gap. He has had lead roles in five national tours with the company in Of Mice and Men, Jekyll and Hyde, Pygmalion, Don Quixote and Cyrano de Bergerac. He has been touring On The Verge, a fantastic one-man show, with the company this year, including an international performance in China!
womans face with striking blonde hair and red lipstick
Denise Armstrong
Through my 18 years working with Common Ground Sign Dance Theatre, I have seen it develop into one of the UK's leading contemporary dance companies and gain an international reputation. In addition, I have learnt over the years, and developed myself to become a Choreographer (the only Deaf Choreographer in the UK) and I am the Artistic Director of Common Ground Sign Dance Theatre. I believe, and through my work demonstrate, that Deaf artists can achieve the same high standards as their hearing counterparts professionally - if they can access the appropriate training and creative environment. By providing both the training and the environment myself, I work with both Deaf and hearing performers, on an equal basis, to create performances enjoyed by any audience.
