DAT Fest 2024 is presented by and showcases Wellington based d/Deaf,  Neurodivergent and Disabled (DND) performing artists, writers, and filmmakers. The Festival is being held over two weeks at Te Auaha, as well as online. 

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D.A.F.T (the Disabled Artists Festival of Theatre) stormed onto the stage in 2022, snagging a Wellington Theatre Award for social change, and delighting disabled and non-disabled audiences alike! D.A.F.T returned for a longer season in 2023...

Now D.A.F.T returns as DAT Fest, and with support from Creative NZ, it's more accessible, bigger, and better than before! 

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This annual event celebrates and recognises the identity, community, and work of DND artists and audiences in the performing arts in Wellington. DAT Fest will provide a platform for DND artists to develop and showcase their work and offer accessible events to DND audiences and the wider community.

 

Festival Directors ‘Creatif’ Kate Spencer and Susan Williams return in 2024. They are both proudly disabled, neurodivergent, queer, theatre makers, performers, poets, comedians, and competitors in the race to remember all their diagnoses first! Both are bringing more talent than you can shake a walking stick at (don’t take Kate’s, she’ll fall over), or shake a white cane at, in Susan’s case. 

 

Creative NZ, Arts Access Aotearoa, Disability Pride Aotearoa, Barbarian Productions & Silver Noodle Soup Film & Theatre Company have all been key supporters, enabling DAT Fest to reach its third year.

 

If you would like to present your work at a future DAT Fest, or perform at this year’s Scratch Night, or become part of the leadership team in future please contact us. 

 

We are looking for volunteers, disabled and non-disabled alike, to make the 2024 festival a reality. If you would like to be an usher, or a Wellbeing Wingperson (helping to make sure everyone is safe and cared for, and has a friendly face to point them in the right direction), then please email hello.datfest@gmail.com.