Paul Miller is a director of Surface Area Dance Theatre and the founder and director of Rory’s Studio, an award-winning arts organisation working across illustration, animation and live
theatre. As a Deaf British Sign Language user, Paul’s work is designed to illuminate andeducate on Deaf culture within mainstream spaces. Based in Newcastle, UK, Paul’s wide-ranging career has led him to work exte
nsively as an ambassador for Deaf Awareness. Notable projects include working with the 2012 Paralympics to
create a live-action short film representing a range of disabled children across the UK, receiving ACE and National Lottery Community funding to create a Youtube channel producing inclusive
children’s stories through lockdown, and working as a guest producer on Where Our Root Are Planted for BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. The project featured renowned deaf choreographer Antoine Hunter and a collaboration with the Royal Conservatoire in Scotland’s BA performance programme, the UK’s first dedicated conservatoire training for Deaf performers. This includes illustration for children’s book authors, partnering with the Royal Association of Deaf People and London’s Camden People's Theatre to create accessible performance work, and travelling to Tokyo to work with Japan Deaf Theatre, supported by Arts Council England’s Artist International Development Fund. Regardless of medium or location, the focus remains the same: working together to increase visibility, understanding and inclusion of Deaf culture in all areas of society, while delighting and exciting audiences along the way. The Gingerbread Witch
Supported by Arts Council England, The Gingerbread Witch was created first as a performance piece in collaboration with artists Vilma Jackson and Joel Daniel. Now devised as a full live touring production, it has also been adapted into animation. Hailing from the old mystical Scottish village of Oban, young twins Anders (deaf) and Aurora (hearing) share a special bond. Children have been inexplicably disappearing in the village for
generations until one day the twins find themselves at the heart of this mystery. This enchanting tale features a deaf character at its core, enabling deaf children to see themselves represented in media from a young age. It was awarded Best Artistic Short Film by Deaffest in 2019, Best Animation Short Film by Festival Clin d'Oeil, and in 2020 Colombia’s
International Deaf Arts Festival screened the theatre production virtually. Alexander on the Train
To celebrate his great grandfather’s 90th birthday, Alexander heads on an incredible train journey from Newcastle to Berwick. What will he find on his magical journey through the Northumberland countryside? Supported by Arts Council England, the National Lottery Community Fund and Surface Area Dance Theatre, Alexander on the Train features illustration alongside simultaneous voice narration and BSL interpretation. A heartwarming tale highlighting the beauty of everyday
moments, this short film reminds viewers of the childlike wonder the world around us can evoke. Whether it be a loving family or a rugged coastal view, Alexander on the Train seamlessly integrates communication for both hearing and deaf communities, highlighting how everyday enchantment can be a universal experience.
