La vida es sueño/Life is a Dream
By Pedro Calderón de la Barca (1635)
The flagship play of Spanish Classical theatre. A battle between fate and freedom, between reality and dream. A tale of honour and duty. A tale of love. This 17th century masterpiece has not lost any of its power over time. The story of Prince Segismundo, imprisoned at birth by his father, King Basilio, in response to an omen. His existential dilemmas and the permanent doubt of life’s reality make this play a match to Hamlet or Oedipus.
On TVE1 – Spain’s National TV Channel 1 - 3 o’clock news, 29 April 2013: http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/telediario/telediario-15-horas-29-04-13/1794209/
Un marido de ida y vuelta/A Round-Trip Husband
By Enrique Jardiel Poncela (1939)
Pepe dies unexpectedly during preparations for a fancy dress party at his house, only 5 minutes after making his handsome friend Paco Yepes promise that he will not marry his beautiful wife Leticia after he is gone. Paco, however, does not keep his promise and Pepe returns from the dead, still wearing his Torero outfit, to recover the love of his wife; all this in the midst of all the hilarious and witty absurdity possible.
‘La puesta de largo de Amar en tiempos revueltos en Oxford’ [Amar en tiempos revueltos’ debut in Oxford], TVE1 – Spain’s National TV Channel 1, 21 February 2012. http://www.rtve.es/television/20120221/puesta-largo-amar-tiempos-revueltos-oxford/499958.shtml
La dama boba/The Foolish Lady
By Lope de Vega (1613)
Were it not for the enormous dowry that her uncle left her in his will, Finea would be difficult to marry. Although she is beautiful, it is common knowledge that she is a fool. Her sister Nise, with all her wit, fame and love of books, may have gone too far in the opposite direction and, suffering from a much humbler dowry and much higher pretensions, she is struggling to find a husband.
Otavia, the mother, despairs trying to sort out her daughters' future. In an attempt to solve the most difficult problem first, she arranges for Liseo, a family connection, to marry the foolish Finea. Meanwhile, she hopes that Laurencio, or any other of Nise’s many admirers, will eventually decide to overlook the impertinence of her know-it-all daughter and ask for her hand in marriage.
However, Otavia miscalculates the men’s affections and Finea and Nise only make it harder for their mother. The family's honour will be put at risk as both sisters pursue love, and both suitors pursue the sisters.
Lope de Vega's comedy is one of the greatest Spanish hits of the 17th century - witty, funny and critical of his society. A play filled with love, honour, duels, books and cats.
Live music (composed especially for the play) and beautiful costumes from the Royal Shakespeare Company wardrobe.
PLAYS
Production Team:
Producer – Alejandra Albuerne
Directors – Luis Orellana and Teresa Flórez
Designer – Rachel Beaconsfield-Press
Costume Designer – Sylvia Hong
Stage Manager – Dafydd MacLennan
The Cast:
Segismundo – Antón Morant
Rosaura – Ekaterina Spivakovsky
Basilio – Artem Serebrennikov
Clotaldo – Paco Hernández
Clarín – Teresita Valverde
Estrella – Alejandra Albuerne
Astolfo – Roberto Rubio
Soldier 1 – David Rodríguez Larrea
Soldier 2 – Diego Pardo Amado
Soldier 3 – William Law
Soldier 4 – Chiara Giovanni
Servant 1 – Benedict Nicholson
Servant 2 – Kyran Esparza Mcglacken
Violante – Olivia Peacock
Clorilene – Tiffany Liu
Oracle – Carlo Ferri
Dame 1 – Aelwen Wetherby
Dame 2 – Sarah Peyton-Jones
Dame 3 – Cristina Crichton
Dame 4 – Jessica Small
Production Team:
Producer – Yolanda Pulido
Director – Alejandra Albuerne
Assistant Director – Marina Pérez de Arcos
Light and Sound Director – Alison Walsh
Costumes – Sara García Rates and Lisa Stuergkh
Production Assistant – David Rodríguez Larrea
Marketing and Publicity – Cecilia Ferreira
The Cast:
Leticia – Marina Pérez de Arcos
Pepe – Roberto Rubio
Paco Yepes – David Rodríguez Larrea
Elvira – Aelwen Wetherby
Díaz – Elias Dinas
Cristina – Melanie Martin
Sigerico – Antón Morant
Amelia – Ellen Gould
Gracia – Alejandra Albuerne
Ansúrez – Luis Orellana
Etelvina – Teresa Flórez
Production Team:
Producer – Jack Reilly
Directors – Alejandra Albuerne and Alfie Enoch
Costumes – Lucy Adams
Poster Designer – Ellie Tranter
Music Director – Mano Panforreteiro
Production Manager – Hannah McKenna
Marketing Manager – Hannah McKenna & Alejandra Albuerne
The Cast:
Finea – Marina Pérez de Arcos
Nise – Joana-Isabel Duyster Borredà
Laurencio – Antón Morant
Liseo – Mano Panforreteiro (Manuel Vázquez-Pérez)
Celia – Ekaterina Spivakovsky
Clara – Elisa Pérez Badas
Octava – Verónica Cueva Peralta
Maestra – Alejandra Albuerne
