Being brand new to blogging, I thought I would write about a pet project of mine that is close to my heart: it’s nothing if not ambitious, a long shot, a labour of love, and may never come to fruition, but I’m giving it a go.
As a theatre professional who is in love with and fascinated by all things South American, I am currently working with Bolivian theatre company Teatro de los Andes to try and bring one of their productions to the UK in the autumn of 2010.
I first came across this company when I was in New York on work, attending the inspiring and challenging Under The Radar Festival in January 2007. Teatro de los Andes were performing at this festival and I was stunned that this fabulous, inventive, internationally renowned theatre company from a half-forgotten area of the world that I was already in love with had never brought their work to the UK.
Here’s a clip of their production En Un Sol Amarillo which I saw in New York, and which I’d love to get to the UK next year: it’s a piece about an earthquake and its aftermath and, in particular, the political corruption surrounding the international aid that flowed into Bolivia in its wake…
Since then, I’ve developed links with the company and, most excitingly, visited them at their base in the small village of Yotala near Sucre in the Bolivian Andes in August 2008.
Teatro de los Andes' base in Yotala, Bolivia
So, my to do list now includes getting UK theatres on board and making it happen! I’ve secured the support of the Bolivian ambassador and am working on funding and finding partners. There’s a chance to see their new production – a South American version of The Odyssey – in Europe this coming autumn, and I’m hoping to use my powers of persuasion to get theatre programmers to hop across to see their work then. I’ll let you know how I get on…
Tags: Bolivia, Teatro de los Andes
