Theatre and Social Integration
8-10-14
By: Joyce Wong
This month I got the chance to sit down with some students from The University of Hong Kong’s Social Service Group (HKUSSG) and members of the Hearing Impaired Support Network (HSIN) to talk about their upcoming theatre production Dot Dot Dot (“點點點”).
A joint summer project between HKUSSG and HSIN, the program aims to promote integration between people of different hearing abilities through drama. Set to tour secondary schools around Hong Kong in November to raise awareness for hearing disabilities, the play is based on the personal stories of the cast and the challenges they face everyday.
Unlike usual stage productions that student actor Becky Wong had come to know, this play focuses on script and communication rather than complex staging. When asked about the form of the play and whether physical theatre is stressed over verbal theatre, Becky says, “The playwright didn’t minimize dialogue on purpose to accommodate the disabled actors. The important thing in drama is expressing emotions and though they may have hearing disabilities, they are still able to do that. We didn’t have to emphasize the visual in compensation of the verbal.”
Charlene Chan, the Vice-Chairman of HISN, admits that she was initially very shy and hesitant about acting. “I was not brave enough to express myself at first, but because the students can hear without problem, they are able to remind and assist us. In cooperating with them I’ve slowly developed my confidence.”
Steven Deng, who is diagnosed with severe hearing loss, relies on lip reading for understanding. He found the acting process quite challenging, especially when the hearing ability of his ears are unbalanced.
The most memorable part for the cast was sharing their personal stories and then bringing it to life on stage. Having to act prejudiced against people with disabilities was the hardest part for Gloria, a fellow student actor, because she has come to know and understand the disabled actor as equal through rehearsals. “You always knew you should be accepting of others. But actions speak louder than words and it is only when I actually got to interact with the disabled that I learnt to be more understanding and patient.”
When asked whether drama is effective in encouraging integration, Becky replies, “I still don’t know for sure yet. But theatre is indeed a collective experience, and acting together fosters a team spirit that does provide more potential for integration than just learning about people with disabilities.”
Gloria Pang also agrees in saying, “In usual volunteer work, one is always the needy and the other the helper. Theatre breaks this unbalanced dynamic because whether you’re able or disabled you need to cooperate and help each other to put on a successful show.”
For many members, this program is their first experience of drama, and it definitely wouldn’t be the last. Each agrees with Becky in saying that “drama has the power to move and inspire, it’s more than just a theoretical way of understanding others.”
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