Potential of theater for social inclusion and destigmatization of people with intellectual disability: A case study of the En Dynamei theater group

Abstract

This study is inspired by the author’s many years of participation in a mixed theatre group En Dynamei, which includes actors with and without disorders of intellectual development. This qualitative research aims to explore and analyze the possibilities for equal partnership between artists with different faculties in theatrical synergy, to explore whether such a mixed creative group can become a model for social inclusion and to what extent theatrical performances with “strange” themes and “extraordinary” actors change public attitudes and stereotypes as a prerequisite for de-stigmatization and social integration of people with limited intellectual capabilities.

This case study is based on the method of inclusive observation as a participant observer. Data collection methods include four years and eight months of participant observation period including rehearsals, theatre stage work, participation in festivals in Greece and other countries, everyday discussions and interaction, in-depth interviews with the artistic director and the theater director, semi-structured interviews with parents of disabled members, interviews with all the 26 actors and with audience, as well as audiovisual material from their performances and media interviews.

Research findings show that equal participation of actors with different abilities in theatrical activities encourages social integration and emancipation of participants with limited mental capabilities and confirms that such creative synergy has a significant impact on the social skills of people with mental retardation. This study also emphasizes that the creative and inclusive potential of theater helps overcome stigma and contributes to the social integration of people with intellectual disability.