Embassy Events

Performance by Mentally Handicapped of Kafka’s "Amerika" Opened by Chargé d’Affaires Eddins

Theater from the Passage -- the only theater employing mentally handicapped people in Slovakia – opened its new production of Kafka’s "Amerika" on April 1, with remarks by Chargé d’Affaires Keith Eddins. The performance in Banská Bystrica’s Dom Kultúry was financially supported by the Embassy and promotes a US tour by the theater group. Theater from the Passage, which believes in integrating mentally handicapped people into everyday society, was approached by Texas theater director Steve Bailey, who was impressed by their innovative work with the handicapped and invited the theater for a tour. The theater tries to bridge culture with social education through the construction of a protected workshop and protected accommodation for the handicapped; it seeks to change the way mentally handicapped people are perceived in Slovakia. In the words of Mr. Eddins: "I know the people of Texas – and those who meet the group at other places in the US – will be inspired by the experience. Those who are called handicapped have an important contribution to make to their world."

Remarks by Chargé d’Affaires Keith Eddins  |  Úvodné slovo zástupcu misie Keitha Eddinsa