Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
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Finding support from like-minded people, experiencing a hero's story, and sharing their own destiny—all this becomes possible for people with disabilities thanks to theater. City charitable foundations offer acting classes for their beneficiaries, preparing them for stage performance and helping them express themselves in plays. We explore how theater transforms the lives of people with disabilities and enables them to discover their talents.
Touch the silence
Fund "Compound" helps people with one of the most complex disabilities—simultaneous visual and hearing impairment. The organization not only supports its beneficiaries but also gives them the opportunity to experience the world of art.
"More than 10 years ago, we came up with the idea for a documentary performance in which people would tell their stories: what they faced after losing their sight and hearing, what they felt, and how they coped. Professional sighted and hearing actors would assist them in this: they would engage in dialogue and act out the relationships of the deaf-blind characters with their families and loved ones," explains Natalia Sokolova, the foundation's executive director.
This is how the play "Touchables" came to be. It is the first production of its kind in the world, bringing together deaf-blind and sighted actors on one stage. It is based on the stories of real people, all playing themselves. They talk about the difficulties of pursuing their dreams, the support of loved ones, their fears and successes. They also talk about how to draw, read, write, love, and travel without sight or hearing. Sculptor Alexander Silyanov, student Alena Kapustyan, professor Alexander Suvorov, poet Irina Povolotskaya, triathlete Alexey Gorelov, and others shared their stories on stage. All have varying degrees of hearing and vision impairment.
During rehearsals, the actors were accompanied by deaf and deaf interpreters. They helped the actors communicate with each other and with director Ruslan Malikov. To help the foundation's beneficiaries navigate the stage, special three-dimensional markers were placed on the floor for them. Fragrances, diffused into the air, also played a key role in the preparation of the performance. The production began with woodsy scents, followed by the aroma of mown grass, and finally, green apples. This helped the actors navigate the space and follow the script. But eventually, such tricks became unnecessary, as the foundation's beneficiaries memorized the timing and location of the performance.
The idea of an inclusive performance was supported by Yevgeny Mironov, artistic director of the State Theatre of Nations. The premiere of "Touchables" took place on the theatre's small stage in 2015. Over time, the production received widespread acclaim, was nominated for a Golden Mask Award, and the artists toured cities across Russia, Belgium, France, and other countries.
"The opportunity to be part of a large creative project changed the lives of our students. For example, before joining 'Prikasaemye,' Alexey Gorelov worked as a milling machine operator, and his only commute was from home to work. But thanks to the stage, he literally blossomed, became inspired, and actively took up triathlon. In 2019, at the Sochi competition, Alexey Gorelov completed the Olympic triathlon distance (1.5 kilometers swimming, 40 kilometers cycling, and 10 kilometers running), becoming the first deaf-blind athlete in Russia and the fifth in the world to complete such a course," emphasizes Natalya Sokolova.
The play's last performance was last year, and the next one hasn't been confirmed yet. However, the foundation's beneficiaries have no time to be bored. The creators of the production realized that sharing their stories publicly is therapeutic, so the foundation began holding meetings where everyone can share their experiences with hearing and vision loss.
Theatre in the language of dance
The wards of the charity foundation supporting people with Down syndrome can also experience the world of art. Love SyndromeThey attend classes in a theater workshop, where they learn new things, make friends, and discover their talents. There are 13 teenagers and adults studying there. They meet every Wednesday for rehearsals with artistic director and director Nikolai Ilnitsky. The troupe has staged about 10 performances, almost all in the genre of physical theater.
The new production is a performance entitled "Melpomene. Mystery." It is the story of a muse who became a goddess, told through the language of dance and poetry.
"We decided to create our own legend about Melpomene. During rehearsals, we worked together on the plot, music, and movements, using sketches that were already in our repertoire. The actors mostly have non-speaking roles, only dancing," says Nikolai Ilnitsky.
Particular attention was paid to the costumes in the performance: white and red tunics and golden wreaths reflect images from ancient Greek myths.
The premiere of the play took place on March 22, 2025, in the White Hall of the A.S. Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts and was timed to coincide with International Down Syndrome Day (March 21).
"The guys are always so happy after their performances. Like all actors, they go on stage for love: they receive it from the audience and share it with them. It's a real adventure for our artists—to perform, to captivate the audience, to believe in themselves," says the director.
He adds that the theatre helps the foundation's wards gain confidence in their abilities and accept themselves as they are.
From darkness to light
The foundation's employees also talk about the important role of creativity. House of the Deaf-BlindThey also help their charges become acquainted with theatrical arts.
In 2015, professional actress Natalia Golovko, a graduate of the Moscow Art Theatre School, became a volunteer for the foundation. After spending time with deaf-blind people, she wrote a script for a play about four characters. It was based on the real stories and biographies of people with disabilities. Thus, in 2024, "The Man from Red Clay" was born—a play reflecting on the fates of people who have lost their sight and hearing. The lead roles were played by the foundation's staff, along with Alexander Romashko, a ward of its kind. All of them have hearing and vision impairments.
The foundation's director, Elena Fedoseyeva, who is visually impaired, plays Nina. On stage, she tells the story of a real person: Natalia Kremneva.
"Natalya Kremneva is a totally deaf-blind woman who, against all odds, became the editor-in-chief of the country's only magazine for people with hearing and visual impairments, 'Your Interlocutor.' I have great respect for Natalya Borisovna; 10 years ago, she taught me dactylology—fingerwriting—which allows me to communicate with people who are totally deaf-blind. I wanted to tell her story," says Elena Fedoseeva.
She believes that "The Man from Red Clay" is a play about hope for the best. It tells the audience what it feels like to lose hearing and sight, and how one finds the strength to carry on. There are no plans to repeat the production anytime soon; they are currently rehearsing a larger, more significant production for the organization.
All caring Muscovites can support the foundations' beneficiaries using the charity service onmos.ru portalIt unites more than 100 verified non-profit organizations in the capital.
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