Staging Ableism in Contemporary Theatre;

The widespread presence of ableism in society reveals the extent to which discriminatory attitudes and practices against disabled individuals are embedded in our culture.Throughout history, cultural narratives dealing with disability have both perpetuated and challenged these social prejudices and injustices.Through the lens of Crip Theory and the Social Model of Disability, this paper reveals how the play, Cost of Living by Martyna Majok critiques ableism through character dynamics, dialogue, and power imbalances.It argues that Cost of Living subverts conventional disability narratives and aligns with Crip Theory's call for resistance to normative bodily expectations.This research explores how this play depicts societal barriers in employment, education, healthcare, and community participation that impact disabled individuals, and how its narrative both conforms to and resists traditional representations of disability.The methodology follows a qualitative analysis, focusing on the play's dialogue, character development, and staging choices.Cost of Living highlights the complexities of disability identity and social norms that marginalize these individuals.In the discussion section, these results are analyzed through Crip Theory, focusing on ableism, intersectionality, and the social model of disability.The research concludes with a reflection on the role of theatre in reinforcing or challenging ableist ideologies and social prejudice, as well as the potential of theatre and this narrative to serve as instruments for social change, offering new insights into the representation of disability.