Saturday Mr. Dimitris Antoniouthe actor and writer will use the elevator, as usual, and go up to his stage. Sofuli Theater. However, on this day, he will not only share the stage with his co-star Michalis Saropoulos, but also with a woman who will make his comedy accessible to a different group of viewers.

In addition, this “For the Benefit of Those Sitting 2.5” it is a play about accessibility, or rather the frequent absence of accessibility, as he notes in “K”. “This is a work with a lot of humor that highlights the comic and tragic events that a wheelchair user in Greece has to deal with, from his access to shops to utilities. It’s a mixture of humor and emotion. You cry and you don’t know if it’s from laughter or emotions.”

Most of the scenes in the play are not just a figment of the imagination of Dimitris Antoniou, but a living reality that he himself turned into art. At 16, while still a student, he fell driver’s victim who lured him in front of the school where he studied. The heavy blow caused him many and severe health problems. Since then, the actor has been in a wheelchair and understands every day how inaccessible Greek cities are for people with disabilities.

Most theaters are not available

He realized this again when, as an actor, he sought to find a relatively small theater for his first performance. “Most theaters are 100% inaccessible and there seems to be no desire to change anything. As if they had come to terms with the absurd. As an actor, it was unpleasant for me to scour Thessaloniki in search of a theater accessible to disabled actors. Something similar happens in Athens. I found one or two theaters where I have access to the stage.”

The artist canceled performances in the Athens theater when he was told that he would have to be carried in his arms to perform.

The artist canceled performances at the Athens theater when, he notes, despite their initial assurances, he was told they would eventually have to carry him in their arms for the performance. This would never be acceptable to him, especially when, seconds later, he is asked to star in a show that speaks volumes about the lack of availability. “There are some theaters that have taken care of access for people with disabilities, usually sitting back to back. The people who designed these theaters had this difference in mind. They thought that a person in a wheelchair would want to be a spectator. However, it never occurred to them that he would also think about becoming an actor. This is an element of culture, an indicator of a lack of education, which we are doing our best to make up for it.

The theatre, which decided to give performances in Thessaloniki, also listened to this need. invest in an elevator which gives direct access to Dimitris as an actor, as well as to any other person with mobility problems who can watch as a spectator. His choice was rewarded by attracting audiences and performances.

How to look without hearing or seeing?

Now, with the guarantee of accessibility, Mr. Antóniou and his co-star have tried to reach out to all people with disabilities to motivate them to get out of the house and enjoy the show. As an added incentive, they offered free tickets to people with disabilities. However, one of the last days it was time to take it over. “A Lesson in Accessibility”.

Mr. Antóniou receives a message from a viewer informing him that he has become aware of the availability of the show, expresses a desire to come and states that hearing loss. “I was a little worried. I asked how you look without listening.” “I thought you provided it for inviting disabled people,” came the reply. started asking and looking for ways to make the show accessible to the deaf.That’s where her role is. Constantinas Papageorgiou, a Greek sign language interpreter for the past 18 years, who will be on stage on Saturday. “It will not be on the edge of the stage, so that the viewer is more comfortable, so that he does not have to look at the translator and at us. He will become part of the project and mix with us. This is an experiment, a very pleasant experiment,” he says to “K”.

“We still have a lot to do, but at least we are on the right track”

“Basically, I will be translating at the same time while Dimitris and Michalis are playing. I will translate all the text into sign language. This is what requires preparation. It is difficult to translate humor into another language,” comments Constantina Papageorgiou, who says she is encouraged by this initiative. “I am very happy with what will happen. Personally, I am inclined towards artistic interpretation.” An experienced translator is well aware that what two actors have undertaken to do is an exception to the rule and that the interpretation of theatrical productions is still left to the personal initiative of each troupe and it is not legally required for the deaf to enjoy equal access to culture “I have interpreted some plays, but not many. He is someone who happens to know something,” says Ms. Papageorgiou.