EDUCATIONAL MERIT
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The humanizing experience of love and loss. It's what we all have in common. It is what pulls us all together and lifts this out of education into universal experience. |
First-hand insight and open dialogue opportunities
Crippled is written and performed by Paul David Power, a theatre artist who has lived with a disability since birth. Students will have the opportunity to speak with Paul, other cast members and the director during a talk back session after the show.
Showing rather than telling
Crippled entertains and in the process gives an inside look on what it's like to live with a physical disability. This inside look is not preached, it's not overdone in political correctness and there's no "you should do this" instructions. Instead, Crippled respects the intelligence of its young audience and their capability of reaching their own conclusions through show rather than tell.
Emphasizing the person not the disability
Disability is only one component of the Crippled story. The character of Tony is shown to have many facets to his life including social issues, mental health struggles, relationship issues and sexual needs. Too often dramatic scripts fail to show this and become sidetracked in trying to “deliver a message” rather than presenting a well rounded multi-level character. It's this type of integrated theatre – where a character just happens to have a disability - students, our future arts leaders, need to see.
Igniting discussion and ideas
Crippled – including the title - is intended to ignite discussion on how we all live with different disabilities – how we all are crippled at some time in our lives. The humanizing experience of love and loss. It's what we all have in common. It is what pulls us all together and lifts this out of education into universal experience.
Future Impact
For our youth, this show plants a seed. Students will be able to use “Crippled” as a reference point when intelligently discussing, planning or considering diversity on stage. Crippled is also meant to actively motivate students to consider getting involved in the arts – no matter their physical or mental challenges – by example.
