Camden People’s Theatre is proud to launch Every Body Festival, a two-week celebration of disabled and deaf-led performance, creativity and community. Running from 29 June to 13 July 2025, Artistic Director Rio Matchett’s inaugural programme features a packed line-up of live shows, workshops, digital premieres and panel discussions – all led by disabled and deaf artists pushing at the boundaries of access, artistry and resistance. From one-night-only scratch nights to urgent political debate, the festival is designed to create space for everyone – with access at its heart and artists at the centre.
The festival features new work from FUSE, Deafinitely Theatre, and Paines Plough, alongside streamed performances that extend the programme - and its accessibility - beyond the building. Highlights include For A Palestinian, a ★★★★★ (WhatsonStage) hit performed by Extraordinary’s Bilal Hasna, with a share of the proceeds going to the Ghassan Abu Sittah Children’s Fund, and GRILLS, a ★★★★★ show described by The Reviews Hub as “an archive of queer joy,” developed through CPT’s own commissioning scheme. Both are available to stream on demand throughout the festival, reflecting CPT’s ongoing commitment to digital access and community-led storytelling.
Across two weeks, Every Body Festival brings together one-night-only performances, panel discussions, online meet-ups and live cabaret – all led by artists with lived experience of disability, neurodivergence or deaf identity. From Lighting the FUSE, a new BSL-led theatre piece devised in just five days, to The Only Brown Deaf Man in England, a fierce, funny, and unapologetically bold work-in-progress - one Deaf Bengali man's journey through racism, rebellion, and resilience from 1970s Brick Lane to post-9/11 Britain; written by Nadeem Islam and created with Fuse Theatre. The programme invites audiences to celebrate joy, challenge power, and reimagine the future together
We sat down with Harry Jardine and Chris Fonesca - the co-directors of Fuse Theatre to learn more about their work on the festival.
What can you tell me about Every Body Festival?
It is a brand new theatre and live arts festival at Camden People’s Theatre in London. The aim of the game is to be as inclusive as possible, shining a light on Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists and giving us space to create, perform and have some in-depth and vital discussions. Everyone is invited - the line-up is incredible - and the bar is open!
Where did your journey with Fuse Theatre begin?
It started with a shared language. We met while working on a BSL-integrated show and quickly realised we had the same instincts, the same work ethic, and the same desire to shake things up. What began as a single creative project turned into a six-year partnership and now a company rooted in equity, joy and bold storytelling. Fuse was born out of love for Deaf culture, theatre, and the need to build a platform that champions Deaf and hard of hearing talent.
What is the ethos of Fuse Theatre and how does the Every Body Festival fit into that?
Fuse is about flipping the narrative. We’re here to put Deaf and hard of hearing talent centre stage. Our work is BSL and Deaf LED, not just featured and that’s vital to us. We start with inclusion, not add it later. We tell stories that challenge and uplift in equal measure. Every Body Festival is exactly the kind of platform we believe in:artist-led, inclusive by design, and unafraid to challenge the ‘norm’.
How important has the collaboration been with Camden People's Theatre?
Game-changing. CPT isn’t just a venue - they’re a partner. From day one, they’ve been open, flexible and fully committed to the vision. Working with Rio [Matchett; Artistic Director of Camden People’s Theatre] and the team has felt like an actual collaboration, not a tick-box exercise. They've given us the freedom to dream big, the support to deliver it, and the trust to lead it. That’s rare - and we don’t take it for granted.
It is a brand new theatre and live arts festival at Camden People’s Theatre in London. The aim of the game is to be as inclusive as possible, shining a light on Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists and giving us space to create, perform and have some in-depth and vital discussions. Everyone is invited - the line-up is incredible - and the bar is open!
Where did your journey with Fuse Theatre begin?
It started with a shared language. We met while working on a BSL-integrated show and quickly realised we had the same instincts, the same work ethic, and the same desire to shake things up. What began as a single creative project turned into a six-year partnership and now a company rooted in equity, joy and bold storytelling. Fuse was born out of love for Deaf culture, theatre, and the need to build a platform that champions Deaf and hard of hearing talent.
What is the ethos of Fuse Theatre and how does the Every Body Festival fit into that?
Fuse is about flipping the narrative. We’re here to put Deaf and hard of hearing talent centre stage. Our work is BSL and Deaf LED, not just featured and that’s vital to us. We start with inclusion, not add it later. We tell stories that challenge and uplift in equal measure. Every Body Festival is exactly the kind of platform we believe in:artist-led, inclusive by design, and unafraid to challenge the ‘norm’.
How important has the collaboration been with Camden People's Theatre?
Game-changing. CPT isn’t just a venue - they’re a partner. From day one, they’ve been open, flexible and fully committed to the vision. Working with Rio [Matchett; Artistic Director of Camden People’s Theatre] and the team has felt like an actual collaboration, not a tick-box exercise. They've given us the freedom to dream big, the support to deliver it, and the trust to lead it. That’s rare - and we don’t take it for granted.
Why do you feel now is the time for Every Body Festival?
Because if not now, when? Access shouldn’t still be “radical” in 2025, but unfortunately, it is. The industry is still catching up, and Every Body Festival is here to push that forward. We’re tired of waiting for permission. There’s a whole generation of Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists ready to lead - we’re just giving them the mic.
How do you both view the theatrical landscape in 2025?
It’s evolving… but slowly. There are pockets of genuine progress and amazing artists breaking through, but the industry at large still has a long way to go. We’re optimistic, though. More companies are challenging outdated structures, and audiences are demanding better. We see 2025 as a tipping point - if we keep pushing, we can reshape the entire landscape for the better.
What was the first piece of theatre that you saw that had a big impact on you?
Chris: I remember back at college being taken to see Afrika! Afrika! at the O2, which was incredibly inspiring for me. I’d always grown up focusing on the fact I was Deaf and therefore didn’t really connect to my Blackness until my teenage years. Then I went to see this show and it had AfroBeats, dancing and so on and I really felt connected to my roots so that was just an incredible experience.
Harry: For me, I think I have to say Les Miserables. I saw it when I was a kid, and it changed my life. It was so epic and there was a little boy character called Gavroche who I immediately wanted to be. I ended up going to an open-audition 6 years later and I got the part. That show is the reason I’m in this industry and will always hold a very special place in my heart.
What keeps you inspired?
The people we work with. Every time we’re in a rehearsal room with the artists we work with, we’re reminded of why we do this. Their resilience, creativity and brilliance is endlessly inspiring. We’re also motivated by the gaps - the stories that aren’t being told, the people still being left out. We want to keep building spaces where they can thrive.
What do you hope someone takes away from attending the Every Body Festival?
We hope they leave changed. Whether it’s a new artist they’ve fallen in love with, a perspective they hadn’t considered, or just a feeling of deep connection - we want people to feel like they’ve been part of something meaningful. We want them to laugh, cry, think, dance - and come back for more.
How can anyone keep up with the work that Fuse do?
Follow us on Instagram at @fusetheatre - it’s where we share everything from show announcements to behind-the-scenes glimpses. Or just come to a show, introduce yourself, and be part of the journey!
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The ’Every Body’ Festival – a bold, disabled-led celebration of performance, protest and connection will run at the Camden People’s Theatre from 29th June to 13th July. For tickets and more information, visit: www.cptheatre.co.uk/festivals/EveryBody
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