The Practices of Inclusive Theater in Russia: An Analysis of Meanings for Participants and the Potential for Social Change

Abstract

Theater where people with disabilities participate, or inclusive theater, is aimed to foster the social inclusion of people with disabilities. This research studies inclusive theater practices to understand their potential for social change and its meaning for the participants. The potential for social change refers to 'inclusive potential,' which is measured through the markers of inclusion highlighted in this paper. Based on a literature review, the main markers of inclusion as a sense of equal opportunity have been identified in different social environments: (1) at the macro level, a sense of acceptance and visibility of the group in the public sphere is important; (2) at the meso level, it is a sense of support from the community; and (3) at the micro level, the identity of changes and partially normalizes, through increased personal opportunities and social capital. Between April and May 2021, 18 interviews were conducted with the participants and workers of inclusive theaters in Russia. A thematic analysis of the interview data was carried out. We noted the presence or absence of identified markers of inclusion (deductively) and formulated the practices and meanings assigned to them by the participants (inductively). A comparison of practices in different types of the theater was implemented. Three types of inclusive theaters in Russia were identified: professional, where professional actors participate equally alongside people with disabilities; participative, where only people with disabilities participate under the guidance of a theater specialist; and rehabilitative, where only people with disabilities are involved with the aim of further recovery. The interview data show that professional inclusive theater has the greatest inclusive potential because of the participation of professional actors on an equal footing with people with disabilities and public performances with media participation. The professional inclusive theater develops a sense of 'inclusion' at three social levels, namely macro, meso, and micro.