Theatre without borders - theatre education of blind or/and deaf

Theatre without borders - theatre education of blind or/and deaf

Background
The Theatre Without Borders project aimed to include blind and deaf people and those with a combination of these two dysfunctions in active social life. We applied for this project because we saw a need for activities leading to the professional activation of these people and for methodological training for instructors and educators working with people who, due to obvious limitations, are often on the margins of social life. We also received signals about the lack of adequate training materials on the publishing market for pedagogical staff dealing with art therapy for this group. As the practice of the Israeli theatre Nalagaat shows that involving this group of people in active artistic activity can completely change their lives, giving them a new meaning, we decided to draw on the experience of this institution. We succeeded in recruiting it to our partnership. Other partners who shared their knowledge and experience were: the non-profit organisation Riksteatern Crea from Sweden, the experimental German theatre Lokstoff, and the dance theatre Echodrama from Greece. The Lodz partner of the Institute of Tolerance, was Poleski Ośrodek Sztuki, now part of the City Cultural Zone in Lodz.

Objectives
Through our project, we wanted to develop a group of educators who, in workshops conducted both in Tel Aviv and Lodz, would not only master the methods used by Israeli theatre, but also be able to pass them on locally, nationally and internationally. At the same time, by participating in this project, we wanted to give our educators the opportunity to deepen key competences mainly such as: communication in foreign languages; learning to learn; social and civic competences, cultural awareness and expression. Our aim was also to learn about the Israeli model of professional activation by involving people with disabilities in performing arts. An important planned intention was also to exchange experiences. The diverse profile and expertise of the partner organisations heralded a certain educational success. An important objective was to document the project activities in the form of a methodical handbook and film documentation addressed to those working against social marginalisation and seeking ways to find employment for people with disabilities.

Implementation
There were 3 learning and training activities in the project, LTT one in Lodz and two in Israel at the Nalaga'at centre in Tel Aviv and 4 TPM management meetings, in Sweden, Greece and Germany and two online meetings one, organised by the coordinator the other during the meeting in Sweden, so that the German institution Lokstoff.(absent due to illness at Covid, could participate in the meeting and influence the project arrangements. In addition to this, a number of local trainings and workshops took place, interviews were conducted with project participants, especially people with disabilities. We developed a project leaflet and logo, produced interesting products, the results of intellectual work: Two educational and methodological films documenting the training workshops were produced. we worked on the creation of content products summarising the project: a brochure and a video documentation describing therapy methods through theatre activities in all project partner countries. These results were presented to the general public during dissemination events organised by all partner organisations.

Results
The practice of the Israeli theatre Nalaga'at shows how including people at risk of marginalisation in active artistic activities can completely change their lives and give it new meaning They are more socially and professionally active, benefiting themselves, and the whole community. We learned about the thematically relevant projects of the partners and had the opportunity to exchange experiences in an international setting. We learned about the world of deaf and blind people, about Usher syndrome, which develops in some deaf people and causes them to lose their sight over time, and about ways of communicating with deaf and blind people. By participating in various workshops, we were introduced to the world of darkness and silence, and were able to experience first-hand the limitations that people with these disabilities face on a daily basis. During the project, our blind participants started working professionally. They are engaged in massage therapy, one participant is a guide at the Black World exhibition, another has stood on the professional stage of the Nowy Theatre in the play 'The Practice of Seeing' inspired by Władysław Strzemiński's theory, and at the same time is writing her bachelor's thesis in music therapy.

The Partners:

Instytut Tolerancji w Łodzi, Poland - Coordinator

Echodrama Cultural Group, Greece
LOKSTOFF! THEATER IM OFFENTLICHEN RAUM EV, Germany
Nalagaat, Israel
Poleski Osrodek Sztuki, Poland
RIKSTEATERN, Sweden