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Belarusian-Dutch joint theatrical production to premiere in Minsk on 2 April
MINSK, 28 February (BelTA) – The play “Eight Feelings, or the Birth of Man” will be premiered at the Trade Union Palace of Culture in Minsk on 2 April, BelTA has learned.
The play is the joint theatrical project of two unusual companies: the Belarusian family inclusive theater “i” and the Dutch theater Kazou at Leo Kanner autism research center. The premiere will be timed to the World Autism Awareness Day.
“It was the head of the “i” theater Irina Pushkareva who came up with the idea to write a play in the format of eight novellas dedicated to various emotions. She wrote the script for the play and directed it. Young singer and actress Zlata Zalesskaya and Vera Zhybul, a poetess and mother of Kastus Zhybul who attends the “i” theater, helped with the script. They were inspired by a touching story by Kastus Zhybul who wrote it trying to understand the complex world of his emotions,” the organizers said.
The play “Eight Feelings, or the Birth of Man” is not the first play based on Kastus Zhybul’s ideas. He has already written the script for the play “Railway” which was successfully staged in various places of Belarus and at the international event “Theater and Autism. Questions and Answers”. Art director of the Dutch theater Kazou Hans Salemink attended the premiere of the play “Railway”. He was inspired by the play, and the two theaters started cooperating. Hans Salemink has directed some of the eight novellas.
“Acting in this play has a notable therapeutic effect on children with autism. When young actors express certain emotions at the stage, they get an opportunity to understand them better and to learn to control feelings and emotions in everyday life. This is something children with autism sometimes lack because of their specific world perception. The play is based on the attempt of an autistic boy to figure out his emotions, which makes it interesting and useful for those who want to broaden their own perception of the world and get rid of stereotypes,” Irina Pushkareva noted.
Around 80 actors are engaged in the play, including famous professional Belarusian actors.
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