Theatre Rehabilitation Program for People with Disabilities "Untrodden Path"
An important aspect in the field of social services is cooperation between government organizations and non-profit associations. The Brest Regional Public Association "Disabled Person and Environment" has been working since 1990 and operates in various directions: environmental projects, international projects, cultural events, art therapy and rehabilitation, and the volunteer movement.
One of the modern forms of work is art therapy, which also includes dramatherapy. The BRPAO "Disabled Person and Environment" participates in the international program "Untrodden Path", which is best known in Brest through the International Festival of Special Theatres. This is one of the major events held within the rehabilitation program. However, "Untrodden Path" is a year-round international program aimed at rehabilitating young people with disabilities and promoting inclusion in society. "Untrodden Path" originated as Nieprzetarty Szlak in Lublin, at the Art Therapy Centre in 1989. Its founder and coordinator is sociologist and therapist Michał Stanowski. In 2000, Lviv joined the program with the public association "Untrodden Trail". Since 2005, the BRPAO "Disabled Person and Environment" has participated in "Untrodden Path" in Brest. Thus, three partner cities — Lublin, Brest, and Lviv — hold a cycle of events.
The cycle of events begins in autumn with a logo competition. Each year, through voting and discussion, a new theme is chosen for all events in all cities. Over 27 years, the following themes have been featured: World of Colors, Four Elements, Wild West, Sport, Time Travel, Sea World, Gypsy Encounters, World of Myths, In Old Cinema, Africa, Space, Around the World, Mountains, Circus, and others. Events are held according to the chosen theme. In autumn, a competition is held for a graphic emblem that becomes the symbol for the entire year. Children and young people with disabilities from any city in Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus may take part in the competition. In addition to the logo competition, master classes, integration and educational summer camps, a song contest in Lublin, a poetry contest, a volunteer school, the photography contest "Theatre in the Lens", the video contest "Glance", and a parade in Lublin are held. Of course, the culmination and conclusion of each theme is the International Festival of Special Theatres "Untrodden Path", which takes place annually in April in Lublin, in early May in Brest, and in autumn in Lviv. The concept of a "special" theatre means that all actors in the theatre have a disability, or the theatre is integrated. However, in our understanding, an "integrated" theatre is one in which more than 50% of participants are people with developmental disabilities.
The BRPAO "Disabled Person and Environment" is the founder and organizer of events in Brest, and ensembles and groups from different countries and cities take part in them. For example, the theatre festival in Brest involves 11 ensembles from Belarus, Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Russia, as well as guests from Latvia, Sweden, and Germany. To participate in the festival, one must pass a competitive selection.
What effects does our work have? Several target areas of work can be identified:
· therapeutic
· cultural
· integration
· educational outreach
· educational
Theatre classes help young people socialize and adapt. Properly structured classes and rehearsals teach how to interact with people and develop social and communication skills. The performance itself creates a very strong success situation, which is extremely important for a young person with a disability. Cultural exchange, participation in international camps, and trips to festivals in other cities undoubtedly contribute to participants' development.
Theatre is also a powerful means of integrating society. Theatre events involve young people without disabilities as volunteers. We structure volunteer work so that during events, actors, directors, group leaders, and volunteers build communication and cooperation on the principles of equality. For young volunteers from Brest, the theatre festival is an opportunity to gain new knowledge and skills and overcome fears.
To cover theatre events, we invite the press and television. Theatre is a medium that allows the aesthetic side of the art of special and integrated ensembles to be shown. Showing the beauty of unusual, therapeutic art is an important factor in consolidating society. It must be acknowledged that in our society there are problems of fear, non-acceptance, and avoidance of such a category as people with disabilities. Theatre lighting, makeup, costumes, and music create a completely unexpected effect, and of course the fact that participants have the opportunity to demonstrate their acting skills — all of this helps shape positive public opinion.
Within the "Untrodden Path" program, the international photography contest "Theatre in the Lens" is also held; amateurs and professionals from different cities take part in it. The high quality and artistic value of photographs taken during International Festivals in Brest, Lviv, and Lublin are evaluated by a professional jury. Involving professional photographers in inclusive events helps achieve cultural, educational outreach, and integration goals. Exhibitions and vernissages have been held in the lobby of the Hermitage Hotel, at the Belarus cinema, at the Paragraph café, and at the High Voltage time club.
Each year we observe growth in the quality of theatre productions, as well as the development of the participants themselves. An indicator of the effectiveness of cultural events held within the Untrodden Path program is that in recent years we have seen a significant increase in audiences in the hall, and in young people who come to exhibitions and master classes. In 2016, the Brest newspaper included the Untrodden Path festival in the "Brest Alphabet", which highlights key city events and interesting people whom "…residents can rightly be proud of".
Undoubtedly, cooperation between non-profit organizations, public associations, and the state contributes to the development of the social protection system, volunteering as social work, and the implementation and promotion of socially oriented cultural projects. The activities of the BRPAO "Disabled Person and Environment" are aimed at implementing such cooperation.
Contacts: belshlyah@gmail.com
Program coordinator "Untrodden Path" Irina Solozobova, +375 29 527 96 92
Festival director "Untrodden Path" Alexey Dyadishchev, +375 33 322 94 85