Dawn Jani Birley

Dawn Jani was born to a third-generation Deaf family in Saskatchewan and identifies herself as culturally and linguistically Deaf. She is a multi-award winning professional Deaf actor with more than 15 years of experience working all over the world. Holding a Master of Arts degree in Physical Theatre with Merit from London, it is her desire to continue creating work that challenges people’s perception of Deafness as well as rebutting ideologies and myths surrounding Deafness. Provoking the hearing world is one of the ways to push for positive changes for us as a society.

Birley established 1S1 Collective in 2019 with the goal of shifting the paradigm around the Deaf/hearing divide. The inspiration is to continue interrogating the form and expression of how we tell stories in the theatre. Collaborating cross-culturally and cross-linguistically, has pushed us to search for a new form of theatre, one that exists at the Intersection of the Deaf and hearing experiences, that celebrates difference, and reflects a broader spectrum of humanity on our stages.

Her strong background in physical theatre has given her an uncanny chameleon-like ability to transform into just about anyone. Her career takes her all over the world, allowing her to work with Deaf and hearing actors, directors, and photographers. Recent credits include: Prince Hamlet (Why Not Theatre, Canada), Black Drum (Soulpepper Theatre/Deaf Cultural Centre, Canada), Sanaton Rakkaus /Children of Lesser God (Espoon Kaupunginteatteri, Finland), and Bernardas Hus (Riksteatern Tyst Teater, Sweden).

In 2017, she was awarded the Toronto Theatre Critics Award for Best Actress in a Play for her role as Horatio in Prince Hamlet. She was also named Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf Person of the Year in 2017. Sweden’s Riksteatern selected her to be the Artist of the year in 2015. Aside from acting, Dawn Jani is also known for advocating Deaf rights. She gives workshops, training seminars, motivational speeches, and appearances.