Filed under: Buenos Aires, la boca, The Arts, theaters, tradition
Teatro Catalinas Sur – A Unique Theater Experience
If a tourist with only one more day to spend in , at El Galpón de Catalinas. Located right in the heart of the barrio de La Boca, a typical port area where working-class Italian immigrants traditionally came to live in the early 1900′s, El Grupo de Teatro Catalinas is a community theatre with a clear political orientation.
They present various professional featuring entertaining of Argentina´s history. The idea of came to life during a neighborhood barbeque held by a school’s parents association. It was during the time of Argentina ‘s military dictatorship, which stifled popular expression, and the theater group used its community service as a form of resistance.
Using the rich popular arts traditions in its barrio de la Boca and artistic forms from other cultures, the group believes that society can be changed by teamwork and a sense of community.
The has created more than 20 plays, and now has over 200 actors, most of them are neighbours. It is remarcable that it remains deeply rooted in its neighbourhood even while the number of its members and have grown. With the assistance of the United Nations and others, Grupo de Teatro Catalinas Sur is sharing community theater techniques with other Latin nations. Members of the group have also taught artists in Europe and the group’s director, Adhemar Bianchi, has developed a community theater workshop in Washington D.C. The group motivates its audiences to learn and focus on the lessons of their own history and identity.
Before the performance you can eat a “” (a typical Argentinean sausage in a French bread sandwich) and have a glass of wine standing right at the curb of the theatre while admiring its : a great 50 meter mural full of famous character faces from Charles Chaplin to Carlos Gardel -Argentina’s most beloved Tango singer of all time. On the sidewalk, the group sets a big table full of different dishes and drinks, and a sparkling grill at street level.
Once inside the Galpón (shed), the interior consists of graded rows with numbered plastic chairs. The same actors that will later perform the play, walk you inside to show you your seat. The atmosphere is very friendly. The combination of music and theater is so that you will enjoy it even if you do not understand a word in Spanish. After the play you can join one of the many group debates that originate inside and outside the theatre, or get to know some very interesting people.
It is definitely off the tourist track but a great place to discover a rich and popular artistic tradition.
Photo Credit:
Tags: Buenos Aires, la boca, The Arts, theaters, tradition
