WEBZINE ACC

# Inclusive performance for all

The performance begins as the curtains open. Doors to the theater are sealed shut without any sound or light coming out. The lights are turned off and the theater is pitch black. The audience has no choice but to sit still. They are expected to remain quiet throughout the performance, talk in cautious whispers, and even hold in sneezes, if possible. These are theater etiquette and audience expectations. Of course, most adults are more than willing to follow these common courtesies to watch a performance of their liking. Performance halls are not a comfortable space. The audience may be thrilled to see the performance, but a certain level of tension is also expected during their time in the theater. It is difficult to relax in such settings. But what if the target audience is children, or people with developmental disabilities? In most cases, the idea of watching performances would not even occur to people in these groups.

Theater company Very Special Art Village wanted to produce a performance that everyone, including people with developmental disabilities, children, and the non-disabled, can enjoy. The audience would be free to make noise, wander the space, or sit in a relaxed position. There would be no need to worry about being asked to leave for distracting the performers or disturbing others in the audience. The company wanted to assure them that it is okay to be different. This is how its relaxed performance program began.

A relaxed performance is a show that has been specially adapted to meet the needs of disabled and non-disabled audiences. Various reactions from audience members with developmental disabilities, including sounds, are considered as part of a performance. For the past 10 years, Very Special Art Village has staged several relaxed performances, including Slow and Crawling Turtle and A Happy Wolf. The latest show it unveiled in the ACC Playhouse in November was Let’s Become a Song, a special blend of relaxed and media art performances.

Many accessibility features were put in place. Doors opened an hour before the showtime to give plenty of time to cope with a new atmosphere. Soft stuffed toys were available at the entrance free of charge to give emotional support. Before the show began, the story was narrated in voiceover by actors in a media art video to help understand the plotline. Doors remained open during the entire performance. Audience members were free to step outside or take time out in a rest area at the back of the theater. Lights and sound effects were toned down to create a welcoming environment. Special considerations made around different elements helped put the audience at ease, whether it be the developmentally-disabled, children, or the non-disabled. This allowed them to enjoy a relaxed theater experience.

Kwon Ju-ah, CEO of Very Special Art Village, stresses that in a relaxed performance, a theater-wide attitude is more important than the content or form of a performance. It is a lesson learned from years of working in the theater and interacting with different types of audiences. In other words, what matters is not what you show, but how you approach and show the audience. In this aspect, the attitude of the cast and crew, including even ushers, is important. This attitude requires more than kind words or gestures. One needs to understand the need for a relaxed performance. Just as the disabled and non-disabled live together in this world, both groups should be able to watch live performances together in a comfortable environment.

Driven by this inclusive attitude, Let’s Become a Song was a relaxed and heartwarming experience, from start to end. The cast and crew were trained to respond to unexpected responses from the audience, but there were no major interruptions, other than some children yelling or mimicking the actors. These natural responses made both the audience and actors laugh, making the performance livelier. Parents were allowed the freedom of not having to say “be quiet!” to their children.

# Malchongi the horse tail’s heartwarming journey

The content and flow of Let’s Become a Song is equally interesting as its novel approach. Once upon a time, there was a horse’s tail named Malchongi. The horse was galloping across the prairie when Malchongi suddenly dropped. Left all alone, the tail goes on a journey to find friends. In consideration of disabled patrons, the actors’ lines were reduced, and the show focused on gestures and images.

As the name ‘media art performance’ suggests, a series of changing digital theatrical backdrops enabled an immersive experience. They took the audience to a vast prairie and hot desert with camels or allowed them to gaze into a starry night sky and swim freely in the deep blue sea. The realistic and vivid backdrops set the scene, inviting patrons to join Malchongi’s journey.

Malchongi tried to attach itself to a camel which already had a tail of its own. It followed a flock of sheep, but it was not the right place, either. It fluttered in the wind, played in the water, and was bitten by a herding dog. One day, Malchongi came across a family of nomads. It sang a lullaby to soothe their crying child, and the two friends both fall asleep. The lyrics to the lullaby were so sweet and beautiful that they kept lingering in my mind.

We are not strangers to the loneliness and fear that Malchongi felt when detached from its body. We often get hurt while trying too hard to get along with others, just as Malchongi struggled to find a friend. In many cases, we feel the need to fit into a certain mold, rather than being accepted for who we are. Let’s Become a Song sends an encouraging message to all of us as follows:

“You are fine just the way you are.”

“I hope you feel more relaxed.”

“The world is a safe place. Don’t be afraid or scared.”

“We are listening to the smallest sound you make.”

“Everyone is your friend.”

Being wholly accepted for who you are is priceless. It can make a positive difference in a person’s life, especially children with developmental disabilities who face everyday challenges. The inclusive attitude of the cast and crew of Let’s Become a Song helps shape an unforgettable experience where individuals are embraced for who they are, and disability is considered a diversity factor.