Cactus performance inspires: Students overcome barriers and thrive!

Cactus performance inspires: Students overcome barriers and thrive!

The exciting performance “The Little Colorful Cactus” caused a stir last weekend in the Maria Hilf community hall in Schweinfurt. The play, which is based on the book of the same name by Stefanie Weber, was rehearsed by the M4 class of the Franziskus School and captivated more than 440 spectators who came from kindergartens and schools. Originally planned to take place in the school auditorium, the performance was able to take place on a larger scale due to private contact, which was a great opportunity for the students.

The little cactus in the story wants a flower to make his desert a little more colorful. But despite our best efforts, nothing happens at first. Instead, his friends encourage him to let go of his desire, be patient, and find faith. After a thunderstorm with rain, the small cactus's perspective changes, illuminating the opportunity to discover new paths. This message was not only important for the actors, but also for the audience, who were able to witness the development of the characters first hand.

Inclusion on stage

An important facet of the performance was inclusive participation. Teacher Stefan Gutwerk and other supervisors accompanied students with different disabilities - they not only performed in front of an inclusive audience, but also grew beyond themselves. The sets, costumes and props were designed in art and craft classes, while the financial foundation, especially for the stage background, was laid through the sale of cakes. This shows how much the local community supports the project and is committed to the integration of children with disabilities.

But the challenges of inclusion are not only felt locally. Theaters in Germany have changed a lot over the years. While some city theaters such as the Staatstheater Darmstadt already welcome permanent actors with physical disabilities in their ensembles, there is still a lot of development needed, such as the Cologne performance collective SEE!, which has not yet implemented any inclusive projects. There seems to be a rethink taking place here, which is urgently needed to take the needs of all players into account and to question the outdated understanding of normality. Inclusion theater is not just a trend, but a must to promote equal opportunities on stages.

Challenges and opportunities

The pandemic has made the path to inclusion even more complex. Digital rehearsals are a hurdle for some players as technical and cognitive limitations can make participation difficult. Nevertheless, many creative collectives show how important communication is: in projects like “People like them” work is done bilingually in sign and spoken language, which represents a model for future developments in theater. Jana Zöll, one of the main figures in the theater landscape, emphasizes that accessibility should not only be anchored in performances, but also in the training for actors with disabilities.

Efforts to improve the training situation are underway. The umbrella organization EUCREA and the cooperation “ART+” pursue the goal of offering artists with disabilities long-term and sustainable training opportunities outside of disability assistance. In this way, the aim is to diversify the art scene and make theater accessible to everyone.

The joint presentation of the piece “The Little Colorful Cactus” is the result of a great collaboration that not only shows talent, but also touches the hearts of all viewers. The message of patience, trust and letting go could hardly be more appropriate. Theater is alive, and it is clear that inclusive projects like these will shape a significant part of the future.