What is Cervantes by word of mouth
A community theatre project born out of the desire to listen to the Exemplary Novels of Miguel de Cervantes told by neighbours from the same community, with the aim of bringing the universe of a classic to the present day, highlighting the validity of his artistic legacy and emphasising the value of the spoken word and its place in the culture of society.
The project, created and directed by Raquel Alarcón (Colectivo Escénica), was created for the Cervantine Week of Alcalá de Henares 2020 and was developed during a month-long workshop with a group of ten residents of Alcalá de Henares from different generations. The premiere will take place on 10 and 11 October at the Corral de Comedias in Alcalá de Henares.
“L"The word of Cervantes is still alive and occupies a place in our imagination. We delve into it through the richness of oral narration, highlighting the value of the word as a living testimony, which allows us to directly and closely summon a daily and essential narrative space. A testimony that passes from mouth to mouth, generation after generation, transmitting the legacy of Cervantes through the voices of young and old, neighbours of the same community".
Raquel Alarcón
What is Cervantes by word of mouth?
Colectivo Escénica proposes a two-phase project: the community theatre workshop and the staging of the final piece, with an approximate development time of four weeks. The workshop, aimed at non-professional participants residing in the community where the experience will be developed and interested in the performing arts, will have a group of neighbours made up of a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 16 participants from different generations, between 18 and 65 years of age.
In the first phase, participants will become familiar with community theatre techniques (group dynamics and improvisation) and tools to develop physical and vocal expression, both chorally and individually. In a second phase, they will work with the tools of oral storytelling to bring each of the stories closer to the voice of the participants themselves and their personal, non-transferable and valuable orality.
ARTISTIC FILE
DRAMATURGY AND DIRECTION
Raquel Alarcón
ADAPTATION OF THE ORIGINAL TEXT
Eva Redondo y Denise Despeyroux, a partir de las Novelas Ejemplares de Cervantes
ATTACHED TO THE ADDRESS
Pablo Rodríguez
PRODUCTION
Elena Martínez