The Performing Arts Club of the Universitat de València offers an intense programme of 15 shows, from February to April, at the Matilde Salvador Hall of the La Nau Cultural Centre. They are 15 stories that, under the slogan ‘Universes’, reflect on the most recent History of Spain, women and science, the Greek classics, art and dance.
As usual in the university programme, there will be a colloquium with the members of the companies at the end of the play every Wednesday. Tickets for the shows (19:00) can be booked in advance at La Tenda de la Universitat (at La Nau and on campuses) or on the website www.latenda.es/entrades (Price: 2€).
According to the academic director of the Club, professor Laura Monrós-Gaspar, this first term programme is part of the commemorative activities for the 450th anniversary of the discovery of the supernova in 1572 by the astronomer, mathematician and humanist Jeroni Muñoz. He was a Valencian scientist with a degree in Arts from the Universitat de València in the 16h century.
It is the universe, the universes or the storytelling that will inspire the audience to reflect on different current and historical issues, such as the proposal that will wick off the programme on 1 and 2 February, by Teada: ‘Dentro de una hora’, with dramaturgy and direction by Juan Luis Mira. It recalls the anniversary of the bombing of Alicante in the Spanish Civil War through the everyday stories of eight characters, minutes before the explosions in the Central Market that would end the lives of 300 people.
On 8 and 9 February, Maquinant Teatre will dedicate the play ‘Cartas a Curie’ to women in science prior to the celebration of the 11. With dramaturgy and direction by Isabel Martí, ‘Cartas a Curie’ is an intimate show through which two women recover the figure of Marie Curie to talk about science, affection or women in adverse environments. The aim is to find out how people can improve the world they live in.
On 15 and 16, a dance performance will be offered, in collaboration with the Professional Dance School of Valencia. Thus, the C-Danza Young Company, choreographed by Young Soon Hue, Guillermo Weickert and Emilio Ochando, will present an attractive project of cultural innovation with a varied programme.
February’s programme will close with the classics of Komos Compañía Teatral on its twentieth anniversary. On 21, 22 and 23, the Greek theatre cycle will bring to the stage the works of Eurípides, ‘Medea’; Sófocles, ‘Oedipus Rex’; and Aristófanes, ‘Lysistrata’, respectively. “Three timeless texts, two universal tragedies and a comedy that is still in force today, which show us how, more than 2,000 years later, the flaws and virtues of human beings remain the same", say the company.
March, the month of women
Laura Monrós-Gaspar highlights March as a month dedicated to the feminine universe through dance and theatre. On 1 and 2 March, Haberlas Haylas will present ‘Nature morte’, directed by Paula Segarra. It was choreographed and created collectively by the same performers, who will recreate the stories of female artists and painters who will be rescued from oblivion as creators. Clara Peters and others will star in this performance, an open window into the artists’ workshop.
On 8 and 9 March, La Ravalera Teatre will stage ‘Antimülleriana i altres cròniques del fracàs’. Text by Núria Vizcarro and directed by Joan M. Albinyana. This drama will reflect on multiple issues surrounding female identity, such as motherhood.
‘La Petite mort’ on 22 and 23, is an adaptation of ‘El desván’ by Patricia Suárez. It is directed by Jorge Affranchino and interpreted by La Gaopante. The story tells an experience of prostitution of women in Buenos Aires. Patricia Suárez will visit the Matilde Salvador Hall to talk about this text.
On Friday 31, the month of women will end with the show ‘Una de diazepam al día’. Performed by Cía. Tripolar-Teatro para la Salud. Script and direction by Jorge Climent. This comedy tries to give a humanised vision of mental health through humour and to contribute to firmly reject any stigmatisation or discrimination.
On April, a new edition of the Festival Dansa Valencia will start. It will take place from 18 to 21 April at La Nau Cultural Centre. Information about prices and schedules available here: https://dv.ivc.gva.es/en/
"In this programme, the treatment of women as one of the universes on which we have to reflect has an important weight, but it also reflects the social commitment, a part that we always take into account and that this year we frame in the International Day against Bullying", says professor Monrós-Gaspar.
Thus, on the occasion of the claim of May 2nd against bullying or school bullying, proclaimed by parents' associations and NGOs, the Matilde Salvador Hall will host the performance 'Don't be cruel' on 26 and 27 April, by La Dramàtica Produccions. With text by Marian Villaescusa and directed by Pablo Ricart and José Terol, this play is acid, brave and funny and it deals in a peculiar way with such a cruel and delicate subject as bullying at school. The show presents both comic and dramatic situations on stage about child bullying to show the consequences that these experiences at an early age can have on a child's personality and identity in the future.
With 'Don't be cruel', the Performing Arts Club of the UV closes a programme that will return in May with the Mostra de Teatre Universitari on its 26th edition.
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