In June 2006 Chernihiv Integration Theatre Studio “Dyvosad” (Wonderful garden), which united healthy and handicapped youth made its debut in Tchev (Poland) at the IV International Festival of “Wonderful Theatres”. The performance of the Theatre Studio won one of the three nominations.
Dramatic art was chosen as a basis not by chance. There is such a notion as art-therapy, which heals with the help of the picture, music, and dramatic action. Working with the handicapped people it’s important to take into account special psychological needs. Such people live with certain complexes, problems, as they can’t realize themselves as personalities. They have difficulties in communication and they can’t express themselves. Theatre Studio “Dyvosad” has decided to solve these problems within the integration group, which unites healthy and handicapped youth.
The leader of the Studio is Maryna Karanda, a senior teacher of the Philosophy and Culture Science chair in Chernihiv State Teacher’s Training University. Maryna creatively changed well known fairy-tale “Snow white and seven dwarfs”, taking into account art-therapy and adding up-to-date problem situations, which handicapped youth come across with. The fairy-tale sounded in a new way and it was called “A new story about Snow-white”.
The leader of the Theatre Studio “Dyvosad” explains the title of the fairy-tale. She says it is a new story about Snow-white, as it is about us, about Ukraine and people who live in Ukraine and overcome their problems. We chose roles in such a way so that children could be themselves while acting. There is a national symbol in the fairy-tale. The action takes part in Ukraine. Both mother Queen and father King are dressed in Ukrainian style and they think in Ukrainian way. According to play Snow-white meets dwarfs. They aren’t just ordinary dwarfs. They personify people’s virtues. The dwarfs helped Snow-white to develop herself. Orange dwarf was Joy, yellow was Wisdom, green was Hope, blue was Creativity, dark blue was Freedom and violet was Humbleness. Hence, Snow-white collected values common to all mankind and it helped her to overcome evil. The fairy-tale ended with wonderful Ukrainian wedding.
The international audience approved of the Ukrainian performance and the performance won the price of “audience sympathy”. The jury called the performance spectacular. The Theatre Studio was rewarded with the Diploma and with a present. The combination of dramatic art, pantomime, choreography and songs made the performance special.
How did everything start? Tatyana Marinashenko, the leader of the project, tells that everything started from the Youth Theatre Studio in Chernihiv Region Charity “Aratta”. Young people, aged 14-22, visited it. The members of the Theatre Studio were acting in many interesting plays. For instance, they showed the performance “Once more about stars” in some Chernihiv schools. Children wrote the scripts by themselves, using the stories about unhappy love, suicides, and drug addiction. One performance showed in what way children overcome all difficulties.
Chernihiv handicapped children found about the IV International Festival of “Wonderful Theatres” in the Internet. Having found out about the conditions of the competition they made up their minds to take part in it. Unfortunately the only one wish wasn’t enough. They needed not only to show themselves on a high level but also to find money for the trip. It’s possible to say that the whole Chernihiv helped thee Theatre Studio financially. They were very grateful to Chernihiv Centre of Social Services for Family, Children and Youth and to all people who were not indifferent. Before the departure they lacked for 1000 grn. The leader of Chernihiv Town Organization for the Handicapped “Chance” together with the children took jars and went to the market to ask money. Some people offended them and called them beggars but they didn’t take any notice. Other people put two-five grn. Into the jars. In such a way they collected the required money. Hopefully, next time the Theatre Studio won’t have financial problems and they’ll find sponsors.
The participants of the Festival are healthy youth, who help handicapped people to socialize and to change their consciousness and their way of life. Before the trip to Poland the Theatre Studio decided to involve new actors to take part in the performance. For the actors it wasn’t easy to play. There were mistakes, tears and misunderstanding, because pantomime required comprehension and gesture with music should go together. The Theatre Studio “Dyvosad” has achieved such a high result thanks to mutual creative work and harmony between the actors.
The participants of the festival were from Russia, Belorussia, Spain, Poland, England and Ukraine. They all were united by love to people, because when you do good – you become stronger!

L. Shmatok