Fifi Garfield stars in The Vagina Monologues, Deafinitely Theatre’s bold new BSL production of V’s iconic play. Following a sold-out gala at Hackney Empire, the show now embarks on a UK tour.
Directed by Paula Garfield MBE, the production features an all-deaf cast and brings fresh perspectives to the powerful, funny, and emotional monologues that have captivated audiences for over two decades.
The Vagina Monologues opens at Exeter Northcott Theatre on 15 July, with further performances in Sheffield and Birmingham. Book tickets here.
You’re starring in The Vagina Monologues at Exeter Northcott Theatre – what can you tell us about the show?
The Vagina Monologues (TVM) is a beautiful, powerful and moving play written by V (formerly Eve Ensler) after she interviewed and collected stories from women around the world. Women of all ages—young, middle-aged, and older—these are their stories. Some are shocking, some emotional, some comical, and some sexual. You have to come and watch to find out more!
In September 2023, Deafinitely Theatre staged a one-night-only charity gala performance of TVM with a cast of 20 voluntary actors at London’s Hackney Empire Theatre. We were women and non-binary people of all ages, shapes, and sizes. We were also a cast of deaf and hearing actors.
Now, in July 2025, Deafinitely Theatre is bringing the production back with a cast of 10 deaf actors. I’m so excited to be in a room with this amazing group of actors and creatives to stage this play. We’re taking V’s English script, translating it into BSL, and performing it on stage. There’ll be a screen with live written English captions throughout, so this play is for everyone—deaf and hearing, women, men, and everyone in between—to come along and experience this visual production.
BSL—British Sign Language—is a visual language, and it certainly enriches the production of TVM.
I’m so excited to see how audiences react when we take this play to Exeter Northcott Theatre (a new venue for me!), then to the Sheffield Crucible, and finally to the Birmingham Rep Theatre. Hope you can come along and see it too!
This production is performed in British Sign Language – how does that shape the storytelling and audience experience?
British Sign Language (BSL) is a visual language, and for me as a native BSL user, it absolutely enriches the theatre experience. It adds a visual layer of storytelling that (I believe) enhances the written English script.
In this production, we’ve got 10 deaf actors, all performing in BSL, and there’s a screen on stage with us showing live written English captions. So ANYONE can come along and experience this production, whether you know some BSL or not. I guarantee you’ll know some by the end of the show!
The Vagina Monologues was written in the 1990s by V after she collected stories from women around the world about their experiences. This play aims to educate as well as entertain. It’s so important for our audiences to include all people—women, men, and non-binary individuals.
We want to start important conversations about issues affecting women that perhaps they’ve never had before. And for the men in the audience, it’s a great opportunity to develop their understanding of where we’re coming from and to open their awareness to the issues affecting the women in their lives—body changes, periods, childbirth, menopause, and more.
The play has so many monologues about different topics—some funny, some deeply moving. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, and you’ll certainly have your eyes opened.
You’ve worked across theatre, film, and television – how does this role compare to your past work?
I love performing on stage. It was with the London Deaf Drama Group (LDDG), a voluntary group of deaf performers, that I got my first taste of being on stage, and for that I thank them all. I was 19 when I first joined them and wouldn’t be here today without that experience.
I’m very proud to have worked in TV, film, and theatre. Most recently, I was in the ITV six-part Sunday night thriller Code of Silence. This was such a breakthrough moment for me—finally, a role in a TV series on a mainstream channel. But I’ve also loved all the projects I’ve done with LumoTV on the BSL Zone—programmes made in BSL. Check them out!
I was thrilled when Deafinitely Theatre decided to revive this production of The Vagina Monologues and tour it to regional venues. Where else can you use the sign for “vagina” hundreds of times in a day? (Note: This line is humorous but could be flagged as potentially sensitive depending on the publication’s tone and audience.)
So how does this compare? Working on stage in theatres, I have to be very conscious of my BSL delivery being large enough to be seen and understood by audience members who are far away—there’s no close-up shot they can see. So my BSL has to become more theatrical, more visual, and bigger. That’s a challenge I love.
It was a huge challenge when I performed at Shakespeare’s Globe with its circular configuration. But we did it!
I’m so excited to be working with a large cast of women and spending time with this group of actors and creatives… I can’t wait!
What was it like working with director Paula Garfield and such a diverse cast of deaf performers?
I’m delighted to be working with Paula Garfield again in this production. I think this is the fifth or sixth production I’ve been in that she has directed.
I have to be honest and share with you that Paula is my twin sister. I know—that usually shocks everyone! When we’re rehearsing for a play, we have very clear professional boundaries. She is the director, and I am an actor. We can have little niggles with each other—like everyone does—and remain professional.
I think she’s an amazing director. She can see how a production will look on stage. She has such a good eye for detail and is so supportive of deaf performers. I was so proud of her when she received the MBE for services to theatre last year. So well deserved.
It’s so exciting to be in a room of creative and talented actors. There’ll be 10 in this production, and I think for some of them it’s their first time on stage. I can’t wait to see what we can create together to show audiences in Exeter, Sheffield, and Birmingham what deaf people can do!
The show explores powerful and personal themes – were there any moments in rehearsal that particularly resonated with you?
I can’t give too much away—I want you all to come along to Exeter Northcott, Sheffield Crucible, or the Birmingham Rep to experience it live…
This play is so powerful and still so relevant. It was written in the 1990s, and V has done some updates and revisions, but the content is still so relevant to the experiences of women in 2025.
Having the opportunity to translate these texts into BSL and see them come to life is amazing. It’s a joy to perform and see the audience’s reactions, but it’s also been amazing to collaborate with this group of deaf actors and creatives in the room together.
It’s been a joy. It’s felt very freeing and liberating to share this experience with this group, and I can’t wait for audiences to experience it live around the country.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see The Vagina Monologues?
Well, that’s an easy answer—come! You have to come and watch this production.
Whether you’re a man, woman, non-binary, straight, gay, bi, or anything in between… come along, watch, and learn. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions—from happy and joyful to deeply moving and raw.
There are so many amazing experiences and stories told from women all over the world. And to be in the theatre and see 10 deaf actors on stage sharing this experience with you—it will feel very liberating and a celebration of who we are.
