The inclusive potential of applied theatre in activities with people with disabilities

It is difficult to define applied theatre since many theatrical forms are played under that name; however, what they have in common is that they take place in “non-theatrical conditions”, when working with children, adults, people with disabilities, minorities and socially maladjusted people, with the aim to make the audience or the participants aware of the events or topics of personal or public importance. Uniformity cannot be found in the reference literature on the theatrical forms which belong to the applied theatre. Some of the accepted, recognisable forms of applied theatre are socio-drama, theatre in education, theatre in development, playback theatre and the theatre of the oppressed.