‘El Pescador’ (The Fisherman), ‘Nadie lee fuego mientras todo se está quemando´ (Nobody reads fire while everything is burning) and ‘Mutilados en democracia´ (Mutilated in democracy) are premièred in Spain.
The Chilean contemporary theatre companies contributes with two performances to the third MEIedition that will take place between 2 September and 6 October. The Festival is organized by the Tenerife Island Council through the Auditorio de Tenerife, a cultural space linked to the Department of Culture that is managed by the island Minister of Culture, Enrique Arriaga.
The theatrical proposals from Chile are ‘El Pescador’ (The Fisherman), ‘Nadie lee fuego mientras todo se está quemando´ (Nobody reads fire while everything is burning) and ‘Mutilados en democracia´ (Mutilated in democracy), by the respective companies 'Silencio Blanco', 'Niño Proletario' and 'Colectivo Cuerpo Sur'. The first two will be premièred in Europe and ‘Mutilados en democracia´ will be premièred in Spain.
The first play to be on stage will be ‘Pescador’. It can be enjoyed on 15 September at Teatro El Sauzal and on 17 and 18 September at Teatro Timanfaya (Puerto de la Cruz). The play is directed by Santiago Tobar, who also created the puppets. The story delves into the intimate sensation of men working in solitary trades that were confronted with the immensity of nature. This work deals with those places that are now strange and even foreign to us: a man with his boat and fishing net establishes an invaluable connection with his craft
Puppets, elements and manipulators share a space where the actor's physical work and the manipulation of puppets take a new perspective to investigate and develop the poetics of the company. The puppet claims the courage and heroism of everyone it represents in front of five human bodies with pulse and soul. It is silence in all its forms, it is the dance of silence.
The Chilean theatre company ‘Teatro Niño Proletario’ stages in Tenerife "Nadie lee fuego mientras todo se está quemando", premièred in Europe on the 23 September at the Centro Cultural, Vilaflor. On 24 September it will be staged at the Casa de Juventud, El Chorrillo (El Rosario) and on 25 September at Teatro El Sauzal.
Luis Guenel directs this play where Luz Jiménez and Francisco Medina play the roles of a mother and her son, who are homeless and live on the streets of a society they do not wish to belong to. They decide to confront the situation by performing a poetic act as the last gesture to shed light on a country that lives in darkness.
This play revisits the 2005 production 'Hambre' (Hunger), the company's first creation. It is also inspired by the novel 'Los vigilantes', by Diamela Eltit, a winner of the Chilean National Prize for Literature in 2018. Likewise, it is inspired by the poetry book 'Bonzo', by Maximiliano Andrade, a young Chilean poet, and outstanding illustrator, who also illustrated his book.
The last Chilean proposal during this third MEI edition can be seen on 1 October at teatro Timanfaya, Puerto de la Cruz. The piece 'Mutilados en democracia', by the company ‘Colectivo Cuerpo Sur’, will be performed twice on 1 October in Puerto de la Cruz. It is a Belluard Bollwerk production created with the cultural promotion and contribution of the Fribourg Canton, and with the support of the Pour-cent culturel Migros (2020 Call for Projects).
Ébana Garín Coronel and Luis Guenel direct this documentary theatre project that echoes the Chilean riots when the Chilean government announced an increase in underground fares in October 2019. 'Mutilados en democracia' gives voice to many of the insurgents and mutilated victims of police repression. The timely fresco of the directors is a gesture against neoliberal monstrosity and a call for equality.
´Bakunin Sauna, una obra anarquista´ and ´Ana contra la muerte´ will be premièred for the first time in Spain
The Uruguayan theatre contributes with two performances to the third MEI edition that will take place between 2 September and 6 October. The Festival is organized by the Tenerife Island Council through the Auditorio de Tenerife, a cultural space linked to the Department of Culture that is managed by the island Minister of Culture, Enrique Arriaga. The theatrical proposals from Uruguay are Bakunin Sauna, una obra anarquista (Bakunin Sauna, an anarchist play), and Ana contra la muerte (Ana against death), by the theatre companies Teatro El Galpón and Marea Productora Cultural, respectively. Both pieces will be premièred in Spain.
Teatro El Galpón will open this MEI edition. On 2 September in El Sauzal, where the company stages Bakunin Sauna, una obra anarquista. The production, with text and direction of the text by Santiago Sanguinetti, can be seen on 5 September at the Auditorio de Guía de Isora and on 8 September at the Paraninfo de la Universidad de La Laguna.
This play is politically incorrect. Margarita, an old anarchist who is specialized in cognitive computing, plans to kidnap Ema, IBM's new general manager for Latin America, from a hotel sauna in Las Vegas. Two IBM ex-officers, Rosa and Bernardo, help her together with a computer humanoid that looks like the Russian philosopher Mikhail Bakunin and that is specially programmed for the purpose. However, the action gets out of control.
The second Uruguayan proposal is brought by Marea Productora Cultural: Ana contra la muerte, with four performances on the island. The first performance takes place on 29 September at Auditorio Infanta Leonor (Arona), followed by Teatro El Sauzal (2 and 3 October), to conclude on 6 October at Cine Viejo de Candelaria.
Gabriel Calderón is the actor and director of this play that tells the story of Ana, a woman who understood that she had to resist death as long as she could, and even longer. The chances of death are extremely high. But those of never having been born are by far higher. Every person who is born and lives are not only a miracle of nature through its complex biological mechanisms. He/she is also a statistical miracle since the odds of not being born or of dying quickly have always been our cons.
We reject it because we are the unnatural ones because death is a rule to correct the marvellous exception we are. Death returns us to the statistics, like the minerals and stardust that inhabit worlds where nothing is counted because there is nothing.
Apart from these two Uruguayan proposals, in this edition the following companies also participate: three are from Chile (Niño Proletario, Silencio Blanco and Colectivo Cuerpo Sur), one each from Colombia (4 Paredes), Argentina (Diego Casado), Nicaragua (Teatro Justo Rufino Garay), and Portugal (Hotel Europa Teatro); three are from the Canary Islands (Delirium, Ángulo Producciones and Unahoramenos). The festival venues will be the Paraninfo de la Universidad de La Laguna and those of the municipalities of Adeje, Arona, Candelaria, Guía de Isora, Los Realejos, Puerto de la Cruz, Tacoronte, Vilaflor and El Sauzal.
The municipality hosts and premières in Europe two shows of theatre companies from Chile and Colombia
In September, two cultural venues of El Rosario will host two shows that will be premièred in Europe thanks to the theatre festival 'Muestra Escénica Iberoamericana' (MEI). The Festival is an initiative organized by the Tenerife Island Council through the Auditorio de Tenerife, a cultural space linked to the Department of Culture that is managed by the island Minister of Culture, Enrique Arriaga. The City Council of El Rosario has already put tickets on sale for both shows: Carta de una desconocida (Letter from a stranger), by the Colombian company Señor M (4 Paredes) and 'Nadie lee fuego mientras todo se está quemando' (Nobody reads fire while everything is burning), by the Chilean company Niño Proletario.
On 16 September the show 'Carta de una desconocida' (Letter from a stranger) will be premièred at the venue 'Casa de la Cultura', in La Esperanza. It is based on an unrequited love story: a man receives a letter from a woman. She tells him how she has loved him since she was a child. She used to watch him through her window and continued to love him throughout her life. It is the story of silent love that she has so far not dared to reveal. Despite the signs, he has failed to discover it. It is a story of loneliness, pain, and hope with small happy moments.
The play talks about women's privacy, time, hope, and love... It deals with how we construct and idealize ‘the other’ and relationships; it talks about those deep and silent loves that become idyllic and perfect. They live only in the lover's mind and are not deteriorated by use and habit. It deals with sublime loves that last a lifetime. But the story also talks about silence, and how we let ourselves be carried away by a desire for the here and now.
The play ‘Nadie lee fuego mientras todo se está quemando' (Nobody reads fire while everything is burning), will be staged on 24 September at the venue ‘Casa de la Juventud’ in El Chorrillo. A mother and her son are homeless and live on the streets of a society they do not wish to belong to. They decide to confront the situation by performing a poetic act as the last gesture to shed light on a country that lives in darkness.
This play revisits the 2005 production 'Hambre' (Hunger), the company's first creation. It is also inspired by the novel 'Los vigilantes', by Diamela Eltit, a winner of the Chilean National Prize for Literature in 2018. Likewise, it is inspired by the poetry book 'Bonzo', by Maximiliano Andrade, a young Chilean poet, and outstanding illustrator, who also illustrated his book.
Both performances start at 8:00 p.m. Free tickets are available to the public until full capacity is reached. Those interested in attending the show shall reserve their seats by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by dialling the number 922010160 (ext. 1024 for Casa de la Cultura La Esperanza and ext. 3004/3005/1024 for Casa de la Juventud de El Chorrillo). The City Council of El Rosario has established the conditions to get these invitations and the health protocol established for the venues. To check the calendar and information, download it at www.meitenerife.com
The 3rd edition of the MEI Festival runs from 2 September to 6 October in 12 municipalities. It brings 40 performances of 14 shows by 12 different companies. Of the twelve companies participating in this edition, three are from Chile (Niño Proletario, Silencio Blanco and Colectivo Cuerpo Sur), two from Uruguay (El Galpón and Marea Productora) and one each from Colombia (4 Paredes), Argentina (Diego Casado), Nicaragua (Teatro Justo Rufino Garay), and Portugal (Hotel Europa Teatro); three are from the Canary Islands (Delirium, Ángulo Producciones and Unahoramenos).
The festival venues will be the Paraninfo de la Universidad de La Laguna and those of the municipalities of Adeje, Arona, Candelaria, Guía de Isora, Los Realejos, Puerto de la Cruz, Tacoronte, Vilaflor and El Sauzal.
The MEI Festival stages ˋDe ratones y hombres' (About mice and men) and ˋTesla/Edisonˊ at the local theatre of Tegueste. A performance for schoolchildren is also programmed
Next September, the municipality of Tegueste will host two shows of the theatre festival ‘Muestra Escénica Iberoamericana’ (Ibero-American Theatre Festival). The Festival is an initiative organised by the Tenerife Island Council through the Auditorio de Tenerife, a cultural space linked to the Department of Culture that is managed by the island Minister of Culture, Enrique Arriaga. One of the shows, ‘De ratones y hombres’ (About mice and men) will be premièred in Europe during this Festival. The other play, ‘Tesla/Edison’, has programmed one performance for local schoolchildren and another for the general public. The City Council of Tegueste has already put tickets on sale for both shows.
On 14 September, the Colombian company ‘Señor M’ stages ‘De ratones y hombres’ (About mice and men). This company is also known for the stage space where they perform in their country: '4 Paredes'. Based on a story by John Steinbeck, the play begins with two brothers, Colombian peasants, who travel through different regions looking for a better future. One is intelligent and the other is not. One depends on the other until one of the two becomes a dangerous burden. As part of the MEI Festival tour, this play will be premièred in Europe during this Festival and will also be staged in El Sauzal, Puerto de la Cruz and Adeje.
For its part, ‘Tesla/Edison’ is the last proposal of 'Ángulo Producciones', a theatre company from the Canary Islands. This play can be seen in Tegueste on 19 September. It was written by the brothers QY Bazo and adopted by the company after it won the ‘Jesús Domínguez’ prize. This work has a great documentary and cultural value. It is focused on the lives of both geniuses who, despite living science and technology in a very different way, achieved historic advances that we enjoy today. In addition, the local schoolchildren will attend the performance on 20 September during a morning session.
Both plays will be staged at the Teatro Príncipe Felipe at 7:30 p.m. for the general public and at 11:00 a.m. for schoolchildren. Tickets are available to the public until full capacity is reached. Those interested in attending the show shall reserve their seats by dialling the number 922 316 136. The City Council of Tegueste has established the conditions to get these invitations and the health protocol established for the Teatro Príncipe Felipe. To check the calendar and information, download it at www.meitenerife.com.
The 3rd edition of the MEI Festival runs from 2 September to 6 October in 12 municipalities. It brings 40 performances of 14 shows by 12 different companies. Of the twelve companies participating in this edition, three are from Chile (Niño Proletario, Silencio Blanco and Colectivo Cuerpo Sur), two from Uruguay (El Galpón and Marea Productora) and one each from Colombia (4 Paredes), Argentina (Diego Casado), Nicaragua (Teatro Justo Rufino Garay), and Portugal (Hotel Europa Teatro); three are from the Canary Islands (Delirium, Ángulo Producciones and Unahoramenos).
The festival venues will be the Paraninfo de la Universidad de La Laguna those of the municipalities of Adeje, Arona, Candelaria, El Rosario, Guía de Isora, Los Realejos, Puerto de la Cruz, Tacoronte, Vilaflor and El Sauzal.
The ‘Muestra Escénica Iberoamericana’ (Iberoamerican Theatre Festival, MEI) stages the premiere of the Argentinean play "La cápsula" (The capsule) and a play by the Uruguayan theatre company "El Galpón"
The Paraninfo de la Universidad de La Laguna puts tickets on sale for the MEI Festival shows. The Festival is an initiative organised by the Tenerife Island Council through the Auditorio de Tenerife, a cultural space linked to the Department of Culture that is managed by the island Minister of Culture, Enrique Arriaga. The calendar includes two international plays, one of them a world premiere. Tickets for these plays can already be purchased at www.meitenerife.com.
On 8 September at 8:00 p.m., the Uruguayan company ‘El Galpón’ offers the first performance that will be staged at the Paraninfo: 'Bakunin sauna, una obra anarquista' (Bakunin sauna, an anarchist play). Margarita, an old anarchist who is specialised in cognitive computing, plans to kidnap Ema, IBM's new general manager for Latin America, from a hotel sauna in Las Vegas.
Two IBM ex-officers, Rosa and Bernardo, help her together with a computer humanoid that looks like the Russian philosopher Mikhail Bakunin and that is specially programmed for the purpose. However, the action gets out of control. The Spanish premiere of this Uruguayan comedy on the MEI tour will also be performed in El Sauzal and Guía de Isora.
The world première of the Argentinian play 'La cápsula, un viaje unipersonal' (The capsule, a one-man journey) will be staged on 18 and 19 September at 8:00 p.m. This proposal is led by its author and director, Diego Casado Rubio. It is the story of the man who returned to the moon. He is a giant storyteller of impossible and magical feats who has only one wish: to return to where he came from. This journey offers only advantages. All you have to do is choose a day and time for a one-way trip, with no suitcases, no farewells, no departure notices. This is not just another story; it contains an endless list of things to avoid in life. The play 'The capsule, a one-man journey' can only be enjoyed at the Paraninfo de la ULL.
The tickets for these shows can be purchased at a single price of €10. The purchase conditions and the safety and hygiene measures are established by the Paraninfo de la ULL. To check the calendar and information, download it at www.meitenerife.com.
The 3rd edition of the MEI Festival runs from 2 September to 6 October in 12 municipalities. It brings 40 performances of 14 shows by 12 different companies. Of the twelve companies participating in this edition, three are from Chile (Niño Proletario, Silencio Blanco and Colectivo Cuerpo Sur), two from Uruguay (El Galpón and Marea Productora) and one each from Colombia (4 Paredes), Argentina (Diego Casado), Nicaragua (Teatro Justo Rufino Garay), and Portugal (Hotel Europa Teatro); three are from the Canary Islands (Delirium, Ángulo Producciones and Unahoramenos).
The festival venues will be the Paraninfo de la Universidad de La Laguna and those of the municipalities of Adeje, Arona, Candelaria, El Rosario, Guía de Isora, Los Realejos, Puerto de la Cruz, Tacoronte, Tegueste, Vilaflor and El Sauzal.
The Teatro El Sauzal hosts twelve performances of nine shows, including several European premières
The tickets are already on sale for those MEI shows that will be staged in the municipal theatre of El Sauzal. The MEI Festival is organised by the Tenerife Island Council through the Auditorio de Tenerife, a cultural space linked to the Department of Culture that is managed by the island Minister of Culture, Enrique Arriaga. It offers nine shows and twelve performances, including four premieres in Europe and two in Spain. The plays will be staged in El Sauzal’s municipal venue between September and October. Tickets can already be purchased at www.meitenerife.com.
The first performance opens the 3rd Festival edition on 2 September with the Uruguayan company ‘El Galpón’ and their performance 'Bakunin sauna, una obra anarquista' (Bakunin sauna, an anarchist play). Margarita, an old anarchist who is specialised in cognitive computing, plans to kidnap Ema, IBM's new general manager for Latin America, from a hotel sauna in Las Vegas. This work will be staged for the first time in Spain.
On 8 September, the Nicaraguan company ‘Rufino Garay’ will stage the monologue "Francisca" in El Sauzal and for the first time in Europe. The play revolves around Francisca, a Mexican-Nicaraguan woman who on All Souls' Day prepares the table for her ancestors. As she does so, her memories from both cultures appear; sometimes she is Mexican and sometimes Nicaraguan.
On 11 September, the Colombian company '4 Paredes' will stage their production 'De ratones y hombres' (About mice and men) for the first time in Europe. Based on a story by John Steinbeck, the play begins with two brothers, Colombian peasants, who travel through different regions looking for a better future.
On 15 September, the Chilean company 'Silencio Blanco' will perform for the first time in Europe 'Pescador' (Fisherman), a puppet-play for adults. Puppets, elements and manipulators share a space where the actor's physical work and the manipulation of puppets take a new perspective to investigate and develop the poetics of the company.
André Amalio and the Czech Teresa Havlíckova, members of the Portuguese company 'Hotel Europa Teatro' stage their show "Perfect Match" for the first time in Spain. This documentary theatre proposes the importance of love and relationships in migratory movements. It will be staged in the Teatro El Sauzal on 17 and 18 September.
The company from the Canary Islands ‘Unahoramenos’ participates in the MEI Festival on 22 September with two performances of their play ‘Moria’. This immersive theatre proposal tells the story of two refugee women and their families, who have no choice but to flee their respective countries. In addition, they will stage ‘Clara y el abismo' (Clara and the abyss) on 24 September. This production of the 'Laboratorio Galdós Internacional' by the Uruguayan playwright Gabriel Calderón, has original music by Coque Malla.
On 25 September, the Chilean company 'Niño Proletario' brings to El Sauzal and for the first time to Europe the play 'Nadie lee fuego mientras todo se está quemando' (Nobody reads fire while everything is burning). A mother and her son are homeless and live on the streets of a society they do not wish to belong to. They decide to confront the situation by performing a poetic act as the last gesture to shed light on a country that lives in darkness.
The Uruguayans of 'Marea Productora Teatral' present for the first time both in Spain and in Europe the Spanish version of ‘Ana contra la muerte' (Ana against death). Written by Gabriel Calderón, the renowned Uruguayan playwright, this play was already premièred in Italian. It can be seen in El Sauzal on 2 and 3 October. It is the story of a woman who understood that she had to resist death as long as she could, and even longer.
All these performances take place at the Teatro El Sauzal and most of them start at 8:00 p.m. (except for ‘Moria’, which has one performance at 6:00 p.m. and another at 8:00 p.m.). The general price is €10. There is a special price of €8 for students, people under 25, over 65, and for residents of El Sauzal. To check the general terms, the safety and hygiene measures of Teatro El Sauzal, visit www.teatroelsauzal.com.
Except for 'Perfect Match', 'Clara y el abismo' (Clara and the abyss), and as part of the MEI tour, the remaining performances will be staged in other island’s venues. Each show will be performed on several occasions during September and early October. To check the calendar and information, download it at www.meitenerife.com.
The 3rd edition of the MEI Festival runs from 2 September to 6 October in 12 municipalities. It brings 40 performances of 14 shows by 12 different companies. Of the twelve companies participating in this edition, three are from Chile (Niño Proletario, Silencio Blanco and Colectivo Cuerpo Sur), two from Uruguay (El Galpón and Marea Productora) and one each from Colombia (4 Paredes), Argentina (Diego Casado), Nicaragua (Teatro Justo Rufino Garay), and Portugal (Hotel Europa Teatro); three are from the Canary Islands (Delirium, Ángulo Producciones and Unahoramenos).
The festival venues will be the Paraninfo de la Universidad de La Laguna and the theatres of Adeje, Arona, Candelaria, El Rosario, Guía de Isora, Los Realejos, Puerto de la Cruz, Tacoronte, Tegueste, Vilaflor and El Sauzal.