In
2007, Lebanese actress and drama therapist Zeina Daccache founded the nonprofit
organization Catharsis with the objective of bringing theatre and drama therapy
to society. Her first choice was to work with those people living behind
prisons’ walls in Lebanon.
After “12 angry Lebanese”, the artistic project with male inmates residing in
Roumieh Prison, Zeina’s next project is ‘Scheherazade in Baabda’ but this time
with women inmates in Baabda prison. To learn more about her highly remarkable
work, iloubnan met Zeina for an interview.
How and Why did you start
this project? My work experience in Volterra Prison, Italy where inmates produce yearly a theatre performance since 25 years now, had inspired me to do something similar in my own country. So, in 2008-2009 I worked on 12 Angry Lebanese with male inmates residing in Roumieh Prison. I facilitated drama therapy sessions for around 45 prisoners there for 15 months and we produced a play that was performed inside the prison and was opened for the external wide audience that was invited to the prison to watch the play. The project served as a bridge between the inmates and the outside world. Soon enough, the project evolved, and the project helped in the implementation of the law for the reduction of sentences upon good behavior.
My aim is to change how the public perceived prisoners, to see them as real people combating stereotypes and misperceptions that limit the prisoner to a sinner, criminal, or loser.
Since 2008, I never quitted prisons. However, we do work outside prisons too, in psychiatric hospitals, in schools, rehabilitation centers, etc...With individuals seeking private therapy.
How much is it difficult to start such project? Who is financing?
In the first project 12 Angry Lebanese, and after the EU financed the project in 2007, we faced the challenge of explaining the project to the Lebanese government, who thought I was crazy to believe that theatre was a must for the prison. They refused again and again, but I was stubborn and kept on insisting. They finally approved the request to start the project, but we would have to ask for all kinds of approvals every step of the way.
Scheherazade in Baabda, the current project in Baabda prison is financed by the Swiss foundation Drosos.
Who will be the audience of the play?
Officials, ministers, deputies, ambassadors, the media, Human Rights Figures, University Students , NGOs etc. and people from the society as a whole attend but many stay on a waiting list as the maximum attendance for each performance is around 50 persons. The Last show will be performed for their families. The inmates will spend around 3 hours with their families for the first time in Baabda Prison history. The same was applied during 12 Angry Lebanese performances.
When you work
with prisoners, how do you see them? Human Beings...Their Id holds all the following : Mothers, Criminal, Human Being, Woman, daughter, dreamer, abused and abuser...Aren't we all alike somewhere? Though we didn’t do "the crime" to which we’d get caught.
How do you compare between your experience in men’s prison and the one in women’s prison ?
Work in both places is very different. In Roumieh Catharsis had rehabilitated a huge room to become a theatre place. In Baabda we work with less logistical "comfort". The same room serves as a kitchen, as a promenade for the women to breath fresh air, etc...
The experiences of both men and women have common points...Both coming in majority from a tough environment and from traumas that happened since their childhood. However a major theme we are dealing with now with the women is the patriarchal society we live in and that influenced much their path in life.
Would you repeat this experience again? Or do you have similar plans for the future, other plans to help women in Lebanon?
Catharsis has been working in prisons since 2008. When there is no play to be performed we continue doing drama therapy sessions for the therapy only of the inmates. So yes we intend to continue drama therapy , however doing a production inside relies much on donations and this is something that depends on if we receive a future donation for a theatre production in prison. On the other hand we intend to do a theatre production in 2012-2013 with another disadvantaged population...We are awaiting a final confirmation from a donor.
How do you feel women changed since the beginning of the worskshop? Do you think these classes could help them when they get out of prison?
- The feelings of self importance and power have been reduced and the inmates have more insight and reconsider their behaviors and attitudes.
- The ideas of injustice diminished a lot. The inmates started working on themselves instead of putting the blame on the society the whole time.
- Depression diminished and the inmates are projecting themselves in the future and trying to put a clear plan for their future.
- Desire to adapt to the external world.
- Less feelings of insecurity and more feelings of security. The prisoners feel secure due to the group work. The sharing of experiences and the group dynamic helped them find a mediating way to channel all their anxieties.
- Feelings of being rejected have diminished. Cohesion in the group favored their adaptation.
- More Empathy towards the Other. At the beginning of the sessions each one was focusing only on herself.
- They even gained skills in communication that were straight applied with their peers and visitors.
- They learned how there are still chances of change while being in prison.
- Some of them never had no self confidence and now they are proud to show who they are on stage.
Of course these sessions could help them. And as any therapy, you get or you develop what you gained or you don’t. So it really depends on each afterwards.
http://www.iloubnan.info/en/detail/18/74526
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