Kermanshah- The 8th Zagros Theatre Festival for Persons with Disabilities was held in Kermanshah from December 6 to December 9, 2024 with the participation of many theatre groups of people with disabilities.

Five theatre groups participated in the festival from Kermanshah, four from Sanandaj, three from Ilam and two groups from Hamadan and Lorestan. On December 10, the groups and artists were honored at the festival’s closing ceremony.

A number of people with disabilities attended the festival. As part of the festival, workshops and seminars were held.

 Soudabeh Glenma, member of a theatre group having taken the stage at the festival, told NuJINHA that all the members of the group are people with disabilities. “I am 28 years old. I have been a member of this group for about two years. All the members of our group are people with disabilities. Our theatre play is about a couple who decide to immigrate to the U.S. However, they face a series of problems whenever they try to go to the U.S. Then, they give up leaving their country.”

‘We want to be visible in society’

“We want to be visible in society,” said Zanyar Khairabadi, another theatre artist. “I have gotten involved in theatre since 2008. As the artists with disabilities, we want to be visible in society. We know that we have some disabilities but these do not prevent us from being active in society. Our society must understand that this is our reality. People should support us so that we can continue our activities.”