A creative approach to raising awareness of haemophilia is being taken in Morocco.  Working with a group of haemophilia patients, Mr Alaoui, a professional playwright – who has haemophilia himself and is leader of the Patient Association – is devising a play that will literally provide a stage for people with haemophilia to tell their stories. The actors - pictured left in rehearsals - consist of 13 boys, the youngest being 7 and the oldest in his twenties. 

The group is developing the play through interactive workshops and improvisation sessions which incorporate physiotherapy techniques.  The aim is not just to reach new audiences when it comes to raising haemophilia awareness, but also to give an outlet to the actors where they can learn to express their true feelings and experiences of living with haemophilia.

The play will open in Fez in Summer 2012.

"The life of a person with haemophilia is marked by fear everywhere and at anytime - so was mine.  But the theatre helped me to live with haemophilia.  Theatre empowers your mind, physiotherapy empowers your body, I call my theatre 'theatrotherapy'"

Alaoui Lahsen, playwright, actor and director.