Galician Theater (1936-1976): Post-War & Contemporary Movements

Posted on Apr 24, 2024 in Music

Theme 8. Galician Theater between 1936 and 1976: The Generation of 50 and the Beja Group

Characteristics of Post-War Theater

Post-war Galician theater was marked by several key characteristics:

  • Paused Creation: Plays were written without the immediate pressure of staging or public readings.
  • Universal Themes: The plays explored universal conflicts, situations, and characters, often set in a dark and problematic world.
  • Post-War Commitment: Playwrights engaged with the social and political issues of the time.
  • Existential Questions: Authors delved into the profound questions of human existence.

Major Playwrights

Eduardo Blanco Amor

Blanco Amor began his theatrical career in Buenos Aires, founding the Galego Popular Theater company and writing plays for it. He continued his work in Galicia in the 1960s, becoming a leading figure in the commercial theater movement. Notable works include:

  • Farces for Puppeteers (1973)
  • Theater for the People (1974)
  • A Process in Jacobusland (1980)

Álvaro Cunqueiro

Cunqueiro was a renowned novelist and poet who also made significant contributions to Galician theater. His plays include:

  • The Role of Romeo and Juliet (1956)
  • The Uncertain Sir Don Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (1959)
  • The Night is Like a River (1965)
  • Words of Eve (1974)

Ricardo Carvalho Calero

Carvalho Calero was a prominent figure in the Galician cultural movement and the first Professor of Galician Language and Literature at the University of Santiago. His theatrical works include:

  • The Son (1935)
  • Isabel (1941)
  • Farce of Zocas (1963)
  • The Arbres (1965)
  • The Prisoner’s Auto (1970)
  • The Shadow Orpheus (1971)

The Dramatic Social or Generation of 50

This group of playwrights, also known as the “Generation of 50,” shared several key characteristics:

  • First Post-War Generation: They were the first generation of playwrights to emerge after the Spanish Civil War.
  • Multi-Genre Authors: They also excelled in other literary genres, such as poetry and narrative.
  • Sociopolitical Concerns: Their work was shaped by a deep concern for social and political issues.
  • Critical Reconstruction: Their plays aimed to critically reconstruct reality and address a wide range of themes, from historical recreations to psychological dramas.

Daniel Cortezón

Cortezón was a playwright and essayist who specialized in historical themes. His plays often featured elaborate plots and complex characters, offering a comprehensive vision of historical events. Notable works include:

  • Prisciliano (1970)
  • The Glory of Gelmírez of Compostela (1974)
  • The Irmandinhas (1977)
  • Pedro Madruga (1981)
  • Diaspora (1976)
  • Castellan, or the Passion of Portugal (1986-1997)

Xohán Casal (Johan Torres)

Casal was a disciple of Ricardo Carvalho Calero and a member of the Real Academia Galega. His theatrical works include:

  • The Other Side of Iberr (1965)
  • A First Class Hotel on the River (1968)

The Beja Group

The Beja Group emerged in the late 1960s and played a crucial role in the development of Galician theater. The annual Theatre of Beja festival, held between 1973 and 1980, served as a major catalyst for theatrical innovation.

Characteristics of the Beja Group:

  • Direct Theatrical Practice: The authors were actively involved in theater production.
  • Experimentation: They embraced experimentation and connected with contemporary trends in European theater.
  • Political Commitment: Their plays often denounced political, linguistic, and cultural oppression.
  • Children’s Theater: They also showed interest in developing theater for children.

Euloxio Rodríguez Ruibal

Ruibal was a founding member of the theater company Ditea and actively participated in the Beja festivals. His plays include:

  • Zardigot (1973)
  • The Birthday (1974)
  • Azos of Esguello (1989)
  • A Macana Dowry (1990)
  • Maremma (1996)

Manuel Lourenzo

Lourenzo is a prominent figure in contemporary Galician theater, known for his work as a playwright, actor, and director. He founded several theater groups and drama schools and actively participated in the Beja festivals. In 1988, he won the National Literature Prize for Drama. His plays include:

  • Traxicomedia Wind of Thebes (1978)
  • All the Children of Sir Galahad (1981)
  • Electra (1994)
  • Joan (1991)
  • Errors and Irons Pedro Madruga (1991)
  • Hidden Indecent (1996)
  • Insommes (2004)

Roberto Vidal Bolaño

Vidal Bolaño was a leading figure in Galician theater, known for his work as a playwright, director, and actor. His plays include:

  • Ledaiñas the Death of Meco (1977)
  • Laudamuco (1977)
  • Bailadela Death Blissful (1980)
  • Gift of Shadows (1985)
  • The Minutes Dark (1997)
  • Tenor Saxophone (1993)
  • The Opera Patacón (1998)