A large room, a few chairs, a CD recorder, two trainers: that’s all you need for the rehearsal of the integrative music and theater project of the “einsmehr” initiative. 14 young people lie on the floor and pretend to be asleep. Theater teacher Kathrin Jung-Can gives the impetus for the next scene and explains: “If someone comes by and grabs your shoulder, then you get up.”
Work together – without fixed text
One by one, they stretch and stretch, one kicks their feet, the other hums along quietly with their eyes closed and a smile on their face. This is exactly what the theater teacher was hoping for, because the plays by the “einsmehr” group do not have a fixed text – the focus is on working together.
“At the beginning we specified several subject areas – everyday life, love, work – and now we got stuck on the dreams. Because there are so many ideas lying dormant in everyone, so much creativity. If you were to stand there and just memorize one text, then it would work “I’ve lost a lot. It enriches me when I see what ideas come from the young people,” enthuses Kathrin Jung-Can.
Theater rehearsal as a weekly highlight
How expressively the 14 to 17 year olds act can be seen in the next scene, which is introduced by acting coach Christian Peters. “Let’s get angry, is that okay with you?” he shouts. “Angry noises, wait a minute, you’re a toad now!” 14-year-old Serafina quickly improvises a magician firing lightning strikes, stomping both legs angrily on the ground and shaking her whole body with a wild look – this earns spontaneous applause from the other actors. For her, the theater rehearsal is something like the highlight of the week, says Serafina. They are like a big family here. Bastian, who was initially only on board for a student job, no longer wants to miss the integrative theater project and comes to every rehearsal.
Star Hours enable the theater project to continue
In 2010, parents with Down syndrome children founded the association “einsmehr – Initiative Down Syndrome eV” in Augsburg in order to reduce prejudices against the affected children and to create acceptance and tolerance in society. The association has been offering the integrative music theater project for children with and without disabilities for several years. 15 children and young people between the ages of 14 and 25 are taking part. In addition to the promotion within the musical area – singing, speaking, playing instruments – concentration, breathing, articulation and body language should also be further developed. Thanks to Sternstunden, the Augsburg theater project for young people with Down syndrome can be continued. Around 18,000 euros go towards room rental, equipment and trainers.
New play will be performed in summer
Astrid Schur, herself the mother of a boy in the group, is happy that things can continue. “It gives him self-confidence. I’m so happy because he had so much fun,” she says. There will also be performances of the new piece in summer 2024. On Friday evening, some actors from the group will also be at the fundraising gala on BR television.
Down syndrome – a genetic disorder
Down syndrome is not a disease, but a genetic change that cannot be changed. It arises accidentally during embryonic cell division through an additional chromosome 21 and is therefore also called trisomy 21. In Germany, around 1,200 children with Down syndrome are born every year.
2023-12-15 11:40:04
#Starry #moments #Integrative #music #theater #children
