A disability doesn’t have to stop you from doing great things. With that message, 15-year-old Benjamin van de Kerkhof stars in his own theater show. He shines on stage together with other young people with disabilities. “This really gives me a buzz from here to Tokyo.”
“You’re so clumsy!” or “You can’t do this.” Just some annoying comments that young people with disabilities hear. The theater performance ‘Alone’ takes you into Benjamin’s day where he is completely alone.
“This is really cool! This really suits me. The applause really gives me goosebumps,” says lead actor Benjamin, beaming. He has Dandy-Walker syndrome, a congenital brain defect. “I suffer from stimulus processing, so when everyone talks at the same time I don’t know what to do anymore. I also can’t see well,” he explains.
“I still get quite a bit of credit.”
Anyone who thinks that only Benjamin is in the spotlight is wrong. “Even though my role seems very small, I still get quite a bit of credit,” jokes 16-year-old Tijn van Eenennaam, a good friend of Benjamin. He provides the intro to the show.
Benjamin: “I play myself and you have to accept me. I can give people something in a nice way, that’s very nice.” Tijn adds: “I like to talk about my disability.” He has the posture and movement disorder cerebral palsy. “The more people know about it, the more people can understand.”
“I am more than a disability.”
“It feels very good to be on the podium! Very exciting,” says Jules Moonemans. Problems with his eye and hand coordination do not stop him from shining on stage. “I am more than a disability. I am a person.”
“It’s really going to be a party. I promise you that!”, shouts Benjamin with great enthusiasm. He hopes it sells out. As loud as he can he says, “Everyone should come and see!” The show full of music can be seen on Saturday, February 24 at eight o’clock in the theater hall of the ‘t Perron community center in Heeze.
