Good premiere for “In principio era la Rupe” (In the beginning there was a cliff) the new show of Teatro a Rotelle (Theatre on Wheels) directed by Jana Karšaiová and Nicoletta Vicentini. On Tuesday, 11 June, the actresses and actors of the university theatre company made their debut at the Veronetta Contemporanea Festival in Santa Marta, with a show that comes to life from the research on the perception of disability in different eras up to the present day.
The title of the show, “In principio era la rupe”, staged by people with disabilities, is an ironic and provocative reference to the Spartan practice of abandoning infants considered weak or disabled on Mount Taygetus, a cliff, to let them die. Starting with this historical reference, the theatre group wanted to emphasize within its performance how much the perception of people with disabilities has changed over time. The self-mockery of the title highlights the absurdity and injustice of discrimination, reversing the historical narrative to highlight the strength and determination of people with disabilities in claiming their place in society.
The performance offered an evening of intense emotion: through acting, choreography and engaging music, the performers entertained and amused the audience, demonstrating that art knows no barriers. The main objective was to forcefully claim their rights and dignity, highlighting that people with disabilities have the same abilities and potential as so-called “healthy” people, although they need additional support.