A young girl stands up and bemoans that her teacher reprimanded her by calling her “handicapped, mental”, when she failed to submit her home work. Others sitting around her on stage, many of whom also suffer from some disability or the other, ask her what action she took to deal with the unfair, unjustified reaction of the teacher. They have no lace for self-pity; they are interested in ways of tackling the prejudice that exists against the disabled. That was one major message of “Expressions” presented by Very Special Arts in collaboration with Lady Shri Ram College for Women. An NGO, Very Special Arts’ focus is to develop “quality art programmes for individuals with disabilities, providing them with opportunities to find expression through the arts”. The objective of such an approach is to “integrate the disabled into the mainstream of society, bringing about awareness of their potential and capabilities”. The play was the culmination of a drama workshop conducted by Barry John and TAG Theatre in Education Company. The students worked six days a week for three hours each day, putting in 90 hours of physical work, for that is what it was since Expressions is “activity oriented”. Ninety hours is not a lengthy period to practice, but as Barry noted, his role as a director was limited. As far as possible the ideas and how these were to be enacted emerged from the participants of whom 20 were disabled from various schools, and the rest students of LSR. Barry minimised his role with the purpose of letting “the participants have a good time giving shape to their feelings”. Hence Expressions, with the motive of “making them open up, and strengthen their confidence through various media - mine, dance, and so on” the director observed. The lack of confidence in fact is evident among the participants while they relate how they handle situations that they confront daily. In the initial stages their is a hesitant, tentative response. And this does not help: people continue to poke fun at their disabilities and they remain ashamed, withdrawn and some grow even more helpless. As their enactment unfolds, the discussions they have amongst themselves provide solutions to their predicament. Among the other items, “Anokha Safar” was well presented: a group, comprising a family in Delhi, visit their relatives in Bombay. The various sights and sounds encountered by the travellers at the railway station, the delights offered by Bombay, and their reluctant uncle’s personality, were all marvellously captured. The “trust game” whereby the disabled are encouraged to develop faith in fellow humans, demonstrated on stage by various leaping/jumping exercises, had a lesson for all of us in the audience as well. The theatre technique employed was noteworthy. A disabled boy Chetan visits the participants and one among them asks what interests him, what he would like to have explained (about the disabled). And then the story is enacted. The role players are the disabled; and those who raise the questions and thus guide them are LSR girls who deserve all praise for the intelligent manner in which they perform this task. In fact, along with Barry John they share in the credit of directing Expressions. They - 32 of them - obviously enjoyed the experience as the folder notes “the joy of working together everyday, experiencing their laughter, problems, enthusiasm, frustrations; their ability to trust, to reach out and be affectionate... Through the interactions, each one of us knows something special about the others”. The less fortunate sensed that “a disability of any kind does not make a difference. Provided the individuals do not feel so”. All in all the enthusiasm of the participants proved infectious. And despite the heat, since DESU decided to have a power failure just as Expressions got going, the audience was caught up with the show on stage. And though the director had stated that the star was likely to be DESU, in the event the children stole the show. * * * * Now a bit about the current activities of the voluntary agency Very Special Arts. At present it is endeavouring to identify talented individuals among the disabled in the visual and performing arts to enable it to publish a directory. This will provide an opportunity to them to exhibit their talent. The VSA has brought out a directory of institutions working among the disabled in Delhi, and has compiled similar information for the state of Kerala. It welcomes assistance in having the Kerala directory published and distributed. q
Contact person: E/18, Defence Colony New Delhi - 110 024 Phone: 6410494, 6472968 |
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