Kelly Hunter Heartbeat Method in theatre work with people with autism spectrum disorders

Abstract

The article presents the Kelly Hunter Heartbeat Method (HHM) in work with people with autism spectrum disorders, used during workshops in Lublin. During the four days of meetings, a team of eight actors together with Hunter, in October 2019, conducted 14 workshops and the final performance with people with ASD. All these meetings were attended by over 70 people with ASD (from young children to adults, from non-verbal people to students with ASD from different universities in Lublin) and over 350 accompanying persons, in particular parents of people with ASD and students of pedagogical faculties at the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University and the Catholic University of Lublin. The article refers to the constant elements of the method: Shakespeare and the rhythm of the heartbeat, structure of a place, people and activity, affirmation of a person with autism spectrum disorders, showing their undeniable impact on triggering the potential of people with autism spectrum disorders.