Fuerteventura actresses stage Lorca play, noting its still‑shocking relevance

A group of Fuerteventura actresses stages Lorca’s play: “It still scares what is current”

The next Friday, March 27, coinciding with World Theatre Day, the Auditorio Insular de Fuerteventura will host a new production of La casa de Bernarda Alba at 20:00. Written in 1936, the play continues to confront today’s society with striking relevance.

The performance, driven by the cultural association Entre Islas PC, stems from the artistic and social commitment of a group of women determined to reaffirm the timelessness of Federico García Lorca’s text.

In a discussion on the radio program La Voz de Fuerteventura, several of the leading actresses emphasized that the work “is more relevant today than ever,” highlighting theatre’s power to convey messages. As they put it:

“Theatre, art is political, completely political, and it must get involved and deliver a message. Otherwise, it serves no purpose.”

The repression, the fear of gossip, social control and inequality that Lorca depicted almost a century ago still dominate.

“The biggest issue is the fear of what people will say, the façade, the pretence… that is still very current today, perhaps even more so with social media,” they explained, pointing to the constant public exposure and intensified social pressure generated by online platforms.

The actresses reminded the audience that the play tells the story of Bernarda Alba, a widowed woman who imposes an eight‑year mourning period on her five daughters. “A woman in the 1930s locks herself inside her house to endure eight years of mourning, with no street light entering,” they summarized.

From there, youthful passion erupts with the arrival of Pepe el Romano, “the catalyst that shatters the fragile peace that might have existed in that house.”

That physical confinement becomes a symbol of broader oppression, both individual and collective.

“It still scares what is current in many ways,” they acknowledged.

In particular, the critical view of women’s role remains strong:

“Today we supposedly have some freedom, but women are still judged constantly.”

Innovative theatre with a message

For several months, the ten‑woman ensemble has rehearsed intensively, aiming to bring the production to the stage on World Theatre Day and revive an important cultural commemoration that had been lost on the island.

The piece is a choral work co‑directed by José Luis Ferreras, Estela Lola Cedrún, and Yanira Calero, each contributing a distinct perspective that enriches the final staging.

Calero’s youthful energy, combined with the experience of much of the cast, allows the group to introduce highly innovative elements that they believe will pleasantly surprise the audience from the very first moment.

Organizationally, the project required months of dedication:

“We have rehearsed many days a week, including weekends. It’s been a very long process,” the team said, confident that the public will respond positively. Tickets are sold at a symbolic price of five euros, a decision meant to valorize artistic work and affirm that art cannot be free.

A few days before the premiere, most seats were already sold through www.ecoentradas.com, demonstrating strong interest in this cultural offering.

Beyond the March 27 performance, the troupe is already planning additional dates in other municipalities across the island, aiming to bring theatre to wider audiences and reinforce its role as a tool for social cohesion.

Technical and artistic details

• Play: La casa de Bernarda Alba by Federico García Lorca
• Date & time: March 27, 20:00
• Venue: Auditorio Insular de Fuerteventura

Direction and co‑direction:

• Yanira Calero
• Estela Lola Cedrún
• José Luis Ferreras

Production: Asociación Entre Islas PC

Poster design: Yanira Calero

Costume design: Irma Machuca

Photography: Augusto de Bago

Cast:

• Bernarda Alba – Estela Lola Cedrún
• Angustias – Inma Machuca
• Magdalena – María Lareo
• Amelia – Inma Jordán
• Martirio – Natividad García
• Adela – Yanira Calero
• María Josefa – Carmen Andrada
• Poncia – Charo Masa
• Maid – Lucrecia Romero
• Prudencia and beggar – Eva Garijo
• Neighbor – Carmen Andrada