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“A luminous show that goes beyond the turmoil of Hamlet to bring to the stage an irrepressible thirst for life”. This is how the commentators on Musiq3 (RTBF) describe a play that made a stopover in Belgium at the beginning of autumn, first in Brussels and then in Namur, to a decidedly enthusiastic audience.
This Shakespearean tragedy has been revisited by Peruvian playwright Chela De Ferrari and her “Teatro La Plaza” company, made up of eight actors, all of whom have Down's syndrome. They tell us their dreams, their hopes, their struggles to be considered as people, autonomous, capable of love, as well as their claim to be different. They share their suffering and their desire to be understood. They believe that “theater is perhaps the last resort” because it “awakens consciences, makes people confess crimes”.
Full of humor, energy and truth, the words are striking - all the more so, perhaps, because they sound Spanish and are transcribed in French - and the spectator cannot remain indifferent to this touching encounter. A refrain resounds in the form of a rap: “Why do we accept insults, why are we standing in front of you and you don't see us? Where are our rights? You who used to laugh at me. Now you remember. You used to blow me off. But you're not like me. Otherwise you'd understand. I forgive you. Despite appearances, I'm as strong as a rock. I don't like the sidelong glances when people think I don't understand, when they touch my body without asking.”
It's easy to understand La Libre's comment: “Not going to see Hamlet because we're a bit embarrassed to watch disabled people perform would be to create a handicap for ourselves.
The troupe has performed in over 25 cities in Europe and Latin America, and at numerous festivals. This year, they are touring Asia and Europe. Chela De Ferrari explains that this project was born from her encounter with Jaime Cruz, who was an usher in her theater and said he wanted to be an actor. The playwright was obviously struck by the construction of this play; in 2025, she will present her first film: Being Hamlet, which recounts the creative process of the eight Down's syndrome actors and actresses rehearsing Hamlet.
The play was being performed in Belgium at a time when the country's sovereigns were giving a special place to people with disabilities (see RTBF report). In fact, to mark the visit of Pope Francis, the Royal Palace organized a reception in collaboration with Cap Event, an inclusive events service whose team of trained and supervised people with disabilities ensure a top-quality service.