INTEGRATION OF DRAMA AND THEATRE THERAPY IN THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

   From 7th to 11th of March, Klaipeda Litorina School organized the second visit of the Erasmus+ Project „SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS OVERCOME OBSTACLES WITH ART THERAPY“. During the aforementioned visit, the method of drama and theatre therapy was introduced towards the educators from Estonia, Greece, Italy, Romania and Turkey.

   Drama therapy is one of the various types of art therapy. It has many definitions. As defined by the Slovak drama therapist Katarina Majzlanova: ‘it is the most suitable type of therapy to employ within our school’. She believes that drama therapy is a therapeutic and educational discipline applied in group sessions, which - on one hand - helps to reduce the symptoms and the effects of disorders as well as social problems - and on the other hand - strengthens the social development and personal integration. Drama and theatre therapies are closely related. Employing of drama techniques in improvised situations helps solve unique problems and overcome emotional experiences in orded to raise the intrinsic motivation, enable socialization and integration into the society. It is important to understand that staging of a fairy tale is not a therapy on itself. There must be positive change during the staging process. This was discussed and explained during the visit. By analysing concrete examples, participating in classical drama and theatre therapy sessions, as well as trying out new therapeutic models developed by the educators of the Litorina School: drama and sand therapy, drama and animal-assisted therapy, drama and dolphin therapy, drama and nature therapy, drama and art therapy, the participants of the visit had the opportunity to see the profound and positive impact that art therapy methods - when applied appropriately - can have on the lives of children with Special Educational Needs.
   During the preparation of the project program, selection of the drama therapy for Klaipeda Litorina School was not by accident. Drama and theatre exercises take place almost on a daily basis within the community of the school. Screening of eligible texts allowing for children to better understand the text and to empathize with the state of the characters. Creation and drawing of comics in order to help overcome communication barriers. The aforementioned activities also help compensate for the lack of knowledge of the Lithuanian sign language. Concerts for simulating songs that provide an opportunity for students with hearing impairments to demonstrate their creative abilities and at the same time represent their native Lithuanian sign language. Theatre puppets that even manage to make children suffering from the most severe traumas speak. Poems with movements that involve students with various disabilities in the activities, etc.

   The most successful examples of drama and theatre therapy were presented during the visit - dance movements and art classes that later turn into big therapeutic concerts. The project participants - seeing how all the students in the school were involved in one performance - answered why the concerts were called therapeutic.

   No matter the number of children performing at the concert, let it be 80, 100 or 139 (that is how many children were participating at the 2021 Christmas concert) - they all get roles in the school's festive performances. The ability to involve all students during the performance is the key strength of Klaipeda Litorina School. Neither the children’s disorders, nor the limited number of playable characters can change this. Our dance teacher creates roles for everyone.  By the way - during one of the sessions - the participants of the visit were given a daunting task: to come up with one hundred and forty roles for the next year's "Pinocchio" performance. Participation during the performances helps raise the self-confidence of the children, helps them reveal their creativity, and gives a lot of positive emotions. Moreover, parents’ tears of joy during the concerts are also considered therapeutic. To see their child as an equal participant in the concert is a great gift for parents!

TURKEY

Drama therapy is the intentional use of drama and/or theater processes to achieve therapeutic goals. Drama therapy is an embodied practice that is active and experiential. This approach can provide the context for participants to tell their stories, set goals and solve problems, express feelings, or achieve catharsis.