Thinking about and protecting theatrical memory from its archives (+photos).
The Villanueva event will run until January 22nd, Cuban Theater Day.
The second laboratory, Archive of Scenic Memory, was held this Tuesday, within the activities of the Villanueva Day, days of Cuban theater in Matanzas, based in the Abelardo Estorino hall of the House of Scenic Memory.
The event program included the panel «Latin American Theater at the House of Memory,» featuring specialist and professor María Isabel Tamayo; journalist, editor, and writer Norge Céspedes Díaz; playwright, critic, and writer Ulises Rodríguez Febles; and critic and researcher Vivian Martínez Tabares, who presented two issues of the journal Conjunto, dedicated to Paraguayan theater. She also provided a summary of the main festivals, premieres, and books recently published on Latin American theater.
Later, the discussion «The Relationship Between the Archive, Library, and Museum of Cuban Dramaturgy» highlighted the work of this institution, unique in Cuba, in promoting, protecting, and researching the cultural heritage, not only of the performing arts but also of a variety of artistic expressions, both within and outside of Cuba, with a special focus on the culture of Matanzas.
Also, with the participation of critic, researcher, and professor Osvaldo Cano and playwright and poet José Manuel Espino, the contributions and value of the Museum of Wooden Sculptures of Cuban Dramaturgy were explained. The museum will celebrate its 10th anniversary on February 6th.
In the afternoon, Martínez Tabares, director of the Theater Department at Casa de las Américas, gave a keynote address on contemporary Latin American theater. The opening of an exhibition of posters from Teatro Icarón productions and a performance of excerpts from the play *Emilia habla con los que no la escuchan* (Emilia Speaks to Those Who Don’t Listen) were part of the day’s events, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the theater group and the 79th birthday of Miriam Muñoz Benítez, recipient of the National Theater Prize, both of which will be celebrated on January 29th.
The exhibitions «78 Years of an Actress» and «Freddy Artiles Collection, 80 Years» were also opened to the public. The occasion provided an opportunity to enrich the archives of the House of Scenic Memory through the acquisition of historical documents as donations.
The Villanueva event will run until January 22nd, Cuban Theater Day.
Written by Jessica Mesa.
