Theater was introduced in
Colombia
Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...
during the
Spanish colonization
The Spanish Empire ( es, link=no, Imperio español), also known as the Hispanic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Hispánica) or the Catholic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Católica) was a colonial empire governed by Spain and its prede ...
in 1550 through
zarzuela
() is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular songs, as well as dance. The etymology of the name is uncertain, but some propose it may derive from the name of ...
companies. Colombian theater is supported by the
Ministry of Culture Ministry of Culture may refer to:
*Ministry of Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Youth and Sports (Albania)
* Ministry of Culture (Algeria)
*Ministry of Culture (Argentina)
*Minister for the Arts (Australia)
*Ministry of Culture (Azerbaijan)
* Ministry of ...
and a number of private and state-owned organizations. Among the most important organizations are the National Association of Scenic Directors (ANDE), Performing Arts Workers Associations,
Antioquia Storytellers Association, Colombian Association of Critique and Theater Research (ACIT),
Puppeteer
A puppeteer is a person who manipulates an inanimate object, called a puppet, to create the illusion that the puppet is alive. The puppet is often shaped like a human, animal, or legendary creature. The puppeteer may be visible to or hidden from ...
s Associations (ATICO), and the Colombian Corporation of Theater, among others.
History
Colombian Theater Pre-Independence
Indigenous Colombians were first introduced to theater during the reign of the Spanish. Colombia’s
colonization
Colonization, or colonisation, constitutes large-scale population movements wherein migrants maintain strong links with their, or their ancestors', former country – by such links, gain advantage over other inhabitants of the territory. When ...
, and thus subjugation, lasted from 1525 to 1819. Because of the timing, early performances were greatly influenced by
Spanish Golden Age theater—a product of the
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...
. Most plays at the time were religious dramas, as the Spanish state oversaw and regulated productions both at home and abroad.
One of Spain’s first colonies was located in modern-day
Bogotá
Bogotá (, also , , ), officially Bogotá, Distrito Capital, abbreviated Bogotá, D.C., and formerly known as Santa Fe de Bogotá (; ) during the Spanish period and between 1991 and 2000, is the capital city of Colombia, and one of the larges ...
. To this day, the city is considered to be the theater capital of the country.
Theater of 19th Century and the Independence
After Colombia gained its independence in 1819, theater content shifted away from its religious roots and towards building a national identity. As theater attendance had become common across all social classes, the stage became an opportunity to reinforce themes of unity, conscience, and liberation.
Out of this era came memorable playwrights such as
Luis Vargas Tejada, the “forerunner of Colombian theater.” The Santa Fé writer briefly served as Secretary of the Senate. He would later join a
Bolivar oppositionist group. Throughout his time as a young revolutionary and political figure, Tejada wrote several plays and monologues across multiple genres. His most notable works are still performed today, including Las convuliones and Doraminta. The latter was written during Tejada’s final months, the majority of which was spent hiding in a cave.
José Fernández Madrid
José Luis Álvaro Alvino Fernández Madrid (February 19, 1789 – June 28, 1830) was a Neogranadine statesman, physician, scientist and writer, who was President of the interim triumvirate of the United Provinces of New Granada in 1814, and Pre ...
was another playwright whose works gained immense recognition in 19th century Colombia. Based out of Cartagena, Madrid wrote political plays critiquing Spain’s conquests of Central and South America.
These two playwrights, along with several others, helped to carve out a unique and solidified identity for Colombian theater. The growing fondness of the practice led to the construction of el
Teatro de Cristóbal Colón
The Teatro de Cristóbal Colón (The Christopher Columbus Theatre), also known as the "Teatro Colón", is located in Bogotá, Colombia and it is the nation's National Theatre. It was built in the Neoclassical style by the Italian architect Pietr ...
in Bogotá. The theater was first opened in 1892. Its
Italian style of architecture mimicked those in other newly liberated territories such as Argentina and Mexico. The fashion would inspire the designs of later Colombian playhouses.
20th Century Colombian Theater
Colombian theater flourished in the 1900s, as budding playwrights and theater enthusiasts began to organize. One of the most popular authors of this period was
Luis Enrique Osorio, later referred to as “The Father of Colombian Theater.” He wrote over 40 plays in his lifetime and created several theater troupes such as the Compañía Dramática Nacional and the Compañía Bogotána de Comedias.
As a connoisseur of comedy, Osorio would eventually construct a playhouse dedicated to the practice. El Teatro de la Comedia was built in 1952, a feat that would win Osorio the Jiménez de Quesada Prize in 1953.
But before the widespread erection of Colombian playhouses came the arrival of television and
radio dramas
Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre, or audio theatre) is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine ...
in the ‘30s. This soon led to the introduction of mixed company productions in 1935. The expansion of both casts and outreach made Colombian theater more accessible to the public.
With this growth came the arrival of
dramatic arts schools. The Bogotá and Cali Schools of Dramatic Art were founded in the mid-1950s. The schools brought scholars from across the globe to teach and host both performances and festivals. The social and cultural impact of fine arts education was so widespread that major schools like Universidad de Antioquia began offering degree programs for aspiring dramaturgs.
In the latter half of the 20th century, Colombian theater would gain even greater national acclaim. The development of the Colombian Theater Corporation in 1969 gave dramatic arts national priority. The group was in charge of coordinating major events such as festivals. Their work inspired several theatre troupes to start their own festivals. In 1988, actress Fanny Mikey and playwright Ramiro Osorio partnered up to create Colombia’s most notable festival to date: the
Ibero-American Theater Festival of Bogota.
Contemporary Colombian Theater
Today, Colombian theater still embraces a culture of passion, freedom, and education. Many plays from Colombia’s earliest playwrights are still performed. Still, the room has been made on stage for young writers to touch on topics such as incarceration, identity, and immigration.
This is possible, in large part, due to the now dozens of theatre organizations scattered from Colombia’s coasts to its jungles.
Despite the impacts of COVID-19, organizations such as ANDE Asociación Nacional de Dirección Escénica have continued the tradition of theater festivals by hosting them online.
Fun Facts
Theater in Colombia is informally known as "tablas" (woods) because of the wooden stages on which actors perform their plays.
References
External links
Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro de Colombia(Spanish/English) Official site.
iGoNativeFestivals and Events in Colombia
See also
*
Om Ki Reo Escena Om Ki Reo Escena (formerly known as "Om Ki Reo Teatro" and "Om Ki Reo Danza Contemporánea") is a Colombian theatrical/cinematographic collective in Bogotá, D.C. founded in 2009 and directed by Manuel J. Escobar (Manuel Hai).
Its first product ...
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Theatre festivals in Colombia
Theatre in Colombia
Festivals in Bogotá