Theatre of the differently abled
In a quiet section of the Ostrovski Museum on Tverskaïa Street, Moscow, a group of 12 unique actors are busy rehearsing for a production. In only one week's time, like any other group of professional actors, they will step out onto the stage to perform in front of an audience.
Whilst most of the cast are already on stage, one member of the troupe is lying on a sofa, holding his hands up to form a pistol and pretending to shoot his fellow cast members."Phillipe, you are only shooting yourself by doing that," barks the choreographer, Margarita Rebetskaïa. Philippe immediately stands up and takes his place, completely undaunted and ready to begin. The scene opens and, without a single fault, he performs the choreographed precise gestures, with his head held in perfect poise, whilst smiling and performing the waltz with his dance partner. "Perfect, Philippe! You see, you can do anything when you put your mind to it", says the choreographer, cheering him on.
For a year and a half this troupe of 12 actors, all living with Down syndrome, have been preparing a rendition of the fairy-tale classic Cinderella, fully choreographed by the professional Russian dancer Margarita Rebetskaïa. "It is my first experience working with actors with disabilities", she explains, and yet she is already determined to not let this become any ordinary performance.
Rebetskaïa set about planning this production with one main aim in mind: to avoid the regular trap of either making the audience sympathise with or stare at those with disabilities. "I want to create a positive theatrical experience; a show of quality and audacity," insists Margarita. "In my opinion, it's the best means of breaking down prejudice and reducing the distance between them and us".
With this in mind, the choreographer has recruited a team of around 20 different theatre professionals in the hope of producing a modern and polished performance. Rebetskaïa then organised a casting session, putting out a call for actors and artists with Down syndrome. For Margarita, this selection process was "completely necessary to line up with our ambitions of creating a professional project". She took the time to seek out and select the perfect Cinderella: "I finally discovered Macha at a theatre festival", Margarita explains.
With only 18 months behind them, the progress made by the troupe has been astounding. "The actors are fully autonomous on stage, they no longer need external guidance", Margarita proudly notes. The production uses silent expressions and mime alongside elaborate dances in the place of spoken dialogue, accompanied by sophisticated animation techniques and a carefully selected soundtrack.
When it comes to teaching the choreography, the secret is to think of the members of the troupe for who they really are: a selection of adults who are also talented, professional actors. "They do very well when left to work by themselves", Margarita continues, now convinced that those with Down syndrome actually make some of the most authentic actors she has ever seen. "They never pretend: people with Down syndrome are incapable of hiding their feelings or lying".
The Open Art Theatre's current director, Oksana Tereshchenko, founded the company in 2001. In addition to providing acting classes, people of all ages living with Down syndrome can familiarise themselves with different art forms, such as playing instruments, or learning how to draw and paint.
Having survived for a couple of years on their own limited funds, the Open Art Theatre then turned towards international charitable organisations in search of financial aid. Thanks to the British organisation Action for Russian Children, the British Women's Club, and various private donors, the theatre is currently able to continue its work.
For more than a year, however, Oksana Tereshchenko has faced many financial difficulties "caused by the economic crisis and the legislative changes regarding foreign NGOs working in Russia", she explains.
And yet initiatives like the Open Art Theatre provide more than just a place for those with Down syndrome to learn and grow: they help to change the Russian people's perspective on disability. "Little by little, opinions and outlooks are changing. But the road is going to be long, and projects like ours are indispensable in bringing about change," emphasises Tereshchenko.
In the future, the theatre wants to go on tour across Russia, performing for both children and adults before continuing this process with even more groups of people with Down syndrome. "We want people to see professional actors before they even notice the disability", says the director, believing that only this alteration of perception will help to truly integrate those with disabilities into the fickle fabric of society.
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