GATHERED SERIES THREE: Puppeteers Robert Bhola, Theresa Upton, and Juan Jaramillo

Robert Bhola is a hard of hearing Canadian/Trinidadian Artist, Actor, Performer, Producer, Director, Scriptwriter, ASL Consultant and founder of 258Signs Productions INC.

As a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA) and parent of Deaf children, he is deeply immersed in Deaf culture and community.

He is known for his contributions to the performing arts and dedication to the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community. Over two decades, his passion for performing arts has been defined through the expressive medium of American Sign Language (ASL).

Robert is active with many theatre groups and festivals across Canada and internationally. In 2021, he was a finalist in the MAP Playwright Festival, collaborating with Juan Jaramillo and Theresa Upton.

In 2023, as a versatile actor, Robert made a notable appearance in the Rogers Canada Commercial "Stargazing". His skills embraces ASL poetry, miming, ASL music, ASL coaching, ASL gloss, and visual vernacular, reflecting his diverse talents as a performer and communicator.

Robert Bhola’s creativity continues to shatter boundaries, bridging the gap between the performing arts and the Deaf community.

Theresa Upton is the only Deaf member of her family. Despite being profoundly Deaf since birth, she embraces her unique identity as a Canadian/Acadian/Indigenous (Mi’Kmaq).

Discovering American Sign Language (ASL) in high school, marked a transformative period in her linguistic and cultural journey.

Her professional career as an expert communicator as a Deaf Sign Language interpreter with organizations and education systems, has been a constant.

Theresa is an accomplished artist, proficient in various mediums to adapt ASL stories for broader accessibility. Theresa collaborates with various stage productions and online performances as well as being an actor, performer in festivals and community gatherings across Canada.

As the founder of "Adeline," her creative talents involves writing and translating songs and children’s storybooks into ASL. Theresa's dedicated commitment to ASL storytelling fosters inclusivity and preserving the richness of Deaf culture.

Theresa's journey is one of resilience, creativity, and unwavering dedication to her roles as an advocate, artist, and storyteller. Her work stands as a bridge between the Deaf and hearing worlds, contributing to the vibrant tapestry of cultural diversity within the realm of the performing arts.

Juan Jaramillo, hailing from Colombia and Deaf since birth has been involved with the Deaf performing arts scene for decades, in Canada, USA and internationally. He is many things: a creator, founder, artistic director, and playwright.

He founded Dancing Hands in 1992, the group has performed across Canada and the USA for over 22 years.

He appeared in a short film called, “Towards You” as a supporting actor. This film received the MENA Film Festival’s audience 1st Choice Awards in the short film category. He appeared in Season 2 of the CBC documentary TV series “YOU CAN’T ASK THAT.”

Juan embarked a ground breaking creative journey, with his inaugural play, 'Fernando and His Llama Friend,' in collaboration with 258signs Production. This remarkable production, entirely in sign language, showcased a talented cast of nine Deaf individuals.

In acknowledgment of his outstanding contributions, Juan earned a coveted nomination for the 2023 Dora Mavor Moore Award in Outstanding New Play.

Juan's mission is to empower the Deaf community through mentorship and scriptwriting for accessible arts.