When theater is a method of treatment

In recent years attention has been paid to theater and drama for children with special needs (autism, épidermolyse bulleuse, Down syndrome, CP, etc.) in Iran, and drama and theater programs have been organized for these children in several educational and psychological centers.

  These programs are designed with the aim of improving the communication, imaging and social skills of this group of children and teenagers.

Also, in recent years, a number of Iranian art groups and theater artists have also produced shows starring children with special needs.

Javad Farahani, a young stage director and actor, has been doing drama and expressive theater exercises for free with children and teenagers with special needs in training classes. These classes have led to the performance of "Wedding Dinner", "Khale Souseke's Wedding", "Bench","Upper Village" with the efforts of students with special needs.

Referring to the challenges of working with children and teenagers with special needs, this director says: Basically, working with children and teenagers with special needs requires a lot of patience, and if you don't have that patience, children will quickly understand and receive the feelings. I can boldly say that I can teach children this way and this type as long as I have the ability and I see that patience in myself; I ‘ll keep going  because I like this work very much. For several years I have been organizing courses and theater acting classes for this group of children and teenagers, which makes me feel good.

He answers the question to what extent theater and drama activities can be effective in improving the mental and physical conditions of these children: Theater training is very useful and effective for children with special needs. In fact, acting and theater can be a powerful tool for them to improve their social, language, communication skills, creative thinking, and even self-confidence, and be considered as a therapeutic method. Drama and theater help these children to strengthen their social and communication skills, share their thoughts with others and experience the feelings and images that are in the drama, strengthen skills such as abstract thinking, imagination and visual power.

Farahani explains about the effect of theater activities on autistic children: Signs of autism in children include less social understanding .They have  some problems such as paying attention to details, correctly understanding  voices and faces, and understanding  body signs. By practicing acting and theater, autistic children can make significant improvements in these skills. This helps them to communicate better with others and learn the social skills necessary to establish effective and lasting relationships.

He continues: Since autistic children seek structure and strict rules, theater and acting can help them learn rules for dealing with the world around them. Therefor theater education for autistic children is considered as one of the effective ways to improve their lives.

Farahani emphasizes the constant attention to child and adolescent actors with special needs: Iranian theater officials should support their works. We should not just remember them for one day in the calendar to do something for them. In the field of drama and theater, even artists can help children with special needs by allocating a special session; it’s what I’ve tried to do in all my performances and they’ve been my cast.