Noora Karjalainen is a Finnish theatre artist, pedagogue, and academic researcher specialising in sign language art and Deaf theatre. She works at the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki (Uniarts Helsinki), where she is pursuing a doctorate in artistic research.
Early Life and Education
Karjalainen studied theatre at the Turku Arts Academy and later at Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts (Stockholms Dramatiska Högskola). She went on to complete a Master’s degree in Theatre Pedagogy at the Theatre Academy of Uniarts Helsinki, where she later began her doctoral research. This academic path provided her with both practical and pedagogical perspectives that underpin her later work as an artist and researcher[1].
Academic and Professional Career
Karjalainen is a doctoral researcher at Uniarts Helsinki, focusing on artistic research that foregrounds the Deaf perspective in theatre. Alongside her academic work, she has held leadership roles in the artistic community. She is the artistic director and founding member of the cooperative Ursa Minor Ensemble, which specialises in sign language art, and serves as chair of the Finnish Deaf Artists’ Guild (Kuurojen Taiteilijakilta)[1].
Karjalainen’s work seeks to centre the Deaf experience in theatre, shifting attention from accessibility for hearing audiences to the creative potential of sign language, Deaf culture, and multisensory aesthetics[1].
Research and Artistic Focus
Karjalainen’s doctoral project explores how theatre can be experienced and produced through Deaf ways of sensing and communicating. Rather than treating sign language and deafness as matters of accessibility, her research investigates them as central artistic resources.
In addition to her artistic practice, Karjalainen has contributed to academic and professional discussions on sign language art, artistic research, and inclusive arts education. She has presented on topics such as Building a Solid Path Towards Artistry – Inclusion of Sign Language Children in Art Education, highlighting the importance of early access to artistic learning for sign language users[2].
Advocacy and Impact
Karjalainen has been active in advocating for greater visibility and recognition of sign language and Deaf culture in the arts. She argues that when sign language is present in theatre productions, it strengthens respect for both the language and its community. She has also noted the marginalisation of Deaf theatre in Finland, pointing to the absence of a fully sign language-based acting degree in the country. Through her leadership roles and research, Karjalainen contributes to building stronger structures for Deaf artists and educators[1][2].
- University of the Arts Helsinki. (2024, September 24). Doctoral researcher Noora Karjalainen wants to put the deaf experience at centre of theatre. Uniarts Helsinki.
- KLAP Theatre for Young Audiences. (2024). International Visitors Programme – Noora Karjalainen. Assitej Denmark.
