Ward We Yasmine (Flowers and Jasmines), the first nationally-produced Egyptian play featuring actors that are disabled or have special needs, opens Thursday at the Small Floating Theatre.

Fetouh Ahmed, Head of Theatre House (Beit El-Fanni Lel Masrah), stated “This is the time in the history of Egyptian theatre [that a play] produced by the national theatre was performed by actors with special needs.”

He further stressed that this is an exceptional initiative that should be encouraged and supported by all Egyptians.

Sherif Fathy, the play's director, noted that the actors involved in staging the play all have different special needs, whether mute or deaf or disabled mentally or physically.

The play revolves around a group of people with special needs that decide to tour the governorates of Egypt to share their stories and problems, only to discover that everyone has the same problems.

Culture minister Helmy El-Namnam, Khaled Galal, head of cultural productions sector, and other cultural ministry officials will reportedly be in attendance at the play's Thursday opening.

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