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Arts as therapy… people with disabilities on theatre stage

At a time when some people with disabilities are being stuck in their closed rooms. On the other hand, a group consists from 18 talented from people

At a time when some people with disabilities are being stuck in their closed rooms. On the other hand, a group consists from 18 talented from people with disabilities showed up by performing on theatre stage through artificial limbs, wheelchairs or other utilities.

Artists used to go on the stage in three steps, followed by a hunched back and a wide smile, as a greeting to the audience. However, Mona Al-Ashqar, 31years, climbed the stage with the help of her prosthetic limb, and drew a smile on her face before starting the storyteller show.

Mona lost her foot and part of her left hand during the Israeli aggression on Gaza in 2014. During the performance, she was talking about her experience in dealing with society, while stress were dominated, as she was afraid to take another step, so her foot slipped and fell on the ground. The new artificial limb has not helped her stand steadily.

Al-Ashqar, a member of the artistic group whom have lost limbs received trainings for 6 consecutive weeks as part of a pilot project, implemented by local and international bodies.

She also indicates that her experience of standing on the stage is a new life to her, "It wasn't easy rather it needed a constant support from the family and this actually happened through encouragement to attend trainings and experimental performances.

And between the artist Al-Ashqar and the artist, Najat Al-Buraim, there was almost one experience, but the latter lost her foot as a result of a medical error. She took life seriously, worked hard and participated in artistic training, all the way up to the stage with the support and encouragement of her family.

Al-Buraim, who is 50 years old and a mother of several children, said that she lives in a three-storey building and does not have an electric elevator. Despite that, she chose to participate in this artistic project, which began with a workshop to hear the needs of people with disabilities and know their stories up to two theatrical performances.

The artist Al-Buraim described in her conversation with “The Last Story”, her suffering with the exercises, saying: “In fact, going up to the stage was not easy and I felt I was making a great achievement, I was able to break the barrier between me and people."

She pointed out that she could not sleep the night before the first theatrical performance because she was terrified to not master the role. From her point of view, she was able to present a distinguished show. Although the party on which she depends is still an obstacle to her artistic talent, especially it needs time to move between one turn and another.

Manal Barakat, director of the storyteller show "The Party", explained that the project is an attempt to bring out artistic talents within disabled people; in addition, they expressed what was inside them and presented their stories to the public without barriers or fear.

Barakat said: "Ignoring people's looks and their hurtful expressions is not easy for people with disabilities. However, the exercises that started with a closed porch, and then expanded to include other people from outside this category allowed them to represent the stories of people with disabilities on the stage, and tell their details with a stylized story."