Actors With Down Syndrome Perform in Avignon

A group of actors with Down syndrome and physical impairment have performed Eugene Ionesco’s absurd play “The Chairs” in Avignon, France.

The play, directed by Hossein Rahimi, was staged eight times from July 24-29 at Chapeau Rouge Theater during the Festival Off d’Avignon, a non-competitive section of Avignon Theater Festival, Mehr News Agency reported on its Persian website.

It is the story of an old man and old woman, frantically preparing chairs for guests who are coming to hear about the old man’s discovery.

Produced by Artestan Company, the play was performed in Persian with French surtitle. Mehran Qandehari, Yahya Tavasoli and Shirin Easy performed in the play.  Papion Theater Group was founded in 2002 by Rahimi, who works with physically and mentally challenged, disabled and mostly Down syndrome individuals through art therapy.

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in extra genetic material from chromosome 21. It causes a distinct facial appearance, intellectual disability, developmental delays, and may be associated with thyroid or heart disease.

The play received the grand prize in Pro Contra Festival in Poland and was honored at the 11th International Theater Festival Teatralny Koufar in Belarus. Avignon Theater Festival, which annually takes place  July 6-24, is one of the important contemporary performing arts events in the world.