Hispanic Studies 445: Theater for Social Change in Latin America: Theories and Practices

The course offers a comprehensive look at the rich tradition of alternative theater in several countries of Latin America, especially after the decade of the 70s. This alternative theater showed unique characteristics: using "collective creation" dramaturgy (similar to current "devised theater"), strong political commitment and social activism (influenced by Brecht and Piscator), and the direct influence of European avant-garde theater (Grotowski, Barba). Also, the Latin American popular theater exhibited a singular interest in theorizing its foundations, particularly through the writings of Augusto Boal (Teatro Arena, Theater of the Oppressed), in Brazil, and Santiago Garcia (Theorizing Collective Creation) in Colombia, as well as plays by iconic groups such as Yuyachkani (Peru), Teatro Experimental de Cali. La Candelaria (Colombia) Malayerba (Ecuador), Gran Circo Teatro (Chile) among others. This class provides students a direct learning experience of Latin American theater through the exploration of tools for producing a short play in Spanish. This class may include a production in Spanish for the community of Walla Walla. Course taught in Spanish. May be applied toward the Theatre/Performance requirement for the major in Hispanic Studies. Satisfies the 400 level requirement for the Hispanic Studies minor.