Special issue with the Sunday Magazine
From the publishers of THE HINDU

CHILD: February 07, 1999

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A rewarding experience

Gowri Ramnarayan

It was at The Prithvi Festival '98 which brought several theatre groups from Europe to India that I met Pawel Szkotak. Almost seven feet tall, he was the young director of "Carmen Funebre" (Funeral Song). The play stunned audiences with its awesome scenes of violence and suffering. No wonder. It was staged by a group from Poland, a battle scarred, holocaust haunted nation. Szkotak lost both grandfathers in the Second World War. His production was an alarmed reaction to the Bosnian war, and to the harrowing accounts of the refugees who poured into neighbouring nations.

What interested me even more was that Szkotak is not only a theatreman, but a practising psychologist as well. He combines both skills in helping the children of alcoholic parents.

This use of the theatre as a therapeutic medium was launched in Poland ten years ago by Radka Rozycka, a trained therapist herself. Since then the methods have evolved into a movement with a national network called "Aslan". (I could not make out from Szkotak's halting English whether the name was from the children's classic of Narnia books by C.S.Lewis).

Unlike most physically and mentally disadvantaged children, the children of alcoholics often do not appear to be in urgent need of help. But they are deeply disturbed by their homelife. Aslan's aim is to involve them in theatre activities of many kinds, as tools for their development, for knowledge, for better expression and self awareness. In fact, theatre becomes a medium for them to know themselves.

Szkotak does three or four plays a year with such children. He also conducts workshops in villages for youngsters between 11 and 19 years. Participants from Warsaw are taken to such village retreats for the five-day workshops. They are divided into small groups, each with an actor guide. Every group puts up its show on the last day, for their peers and parents.

"For most of them, it is the first time in their lives that they get applause, their first brush with praise. This is vital for their self esteem," says Szkotak. It is equally important for parents to feel proud of their children's performance. For some of them this becomes a step towards a better relationship.

Sometimes the older children are inspired to continue theatre activities by forming their own small groups. They develop leadership qualities and are able to communicate very successfully with those who share a similar background. Aslan gives them every help to help themselves.

Many forms of theatre are used by Aslan. Light musicals with mime and dance are popular with children. But it avoids anything sad or serious. "The children have enough sadness in their lives," explains Szkotak. Comedy provides a lot of freedom and fun. Then youngsters experience the joy denied to them in life.

But do the children become more depressed once the show is over? "No," says Szkotak. "That is because they come to know that they are not alone. For most children it is a matter of shame to have alcoholics for parents. Through the workshops they learn that there are others who share the same problem. That comes as a relief."

To Szkotak and to other theatre persons in Poland, working with Aslan is a rewarding and fulfilling experience. It enriches their lives to know that what they do in the workshop has a snowballing effect in helping more and more children to adjust better to home and to school. With hope for a better tomorrow.