HEALING WITH PUPPETS

A ventriloquist is helping children and adults in Thailand process trauma after devastating events

- STORY: THANA BOONLERT

‘I am feeling lonely because friends don’t play with me. Does it happen to you?’ Chico asked a boy.

‘Sometimes, because I am living alone in the city,’ he replied. ‘I can be your friend,’ said Chico, before touching his hand.

It was just a conversation between two puppets — Chico, a boy dog with words on his hospital gown, and Pius, an old/new friend — in a dygo thetical scenario, but it can bring out the truth.

‘I am sure what you said is correct. You are not alone. Without a family, you don’t have many friends,’ said Daniela Hadasy, a drama therapist and ventriloquist from Israel, who has been helping victims who have experienced a wide range of traumatic events from tsunamis in Japan to the tragic school bus fire in Thailand.

At a young age, Hadasy discovered her unique gift of ventriloquism. With a background in theatre, she went on to pursue her second master’s degree in drama therapy. Since then, she has been working in a hospital. Her transition from a stage to a patient’s room is grounded in a car accident at 20, which crippled her for a year and left scar on her hand.

‘I encourage patients through puppets. That is treatment. It makes them feel as if it is their story,’ she said.

Hadasy has a cast of characters. While Chico is designed for use in the psychiatric ward, Pius, a bear-like puppet with IV, scars, bandages and applicable medical devices, is intended for transplant patients.

Jero is an old boy with attention disorder, and Gaia is an anorexic girl. Also made of the therapeutic cloth are Lakia is a puppet with dark skin and big eyes.