In 2024, the UNAM Theater Directorate solidified its place as a key player in Mexico's theatrical landscape, drawing in 71,847 attendees through a diverse program. This year, UNAM showcased 27 stage productions, supplemented with dramatic readings, lectures, discussions, workshops, book launches, and a unique audio project, all aimed at encouraging critical thinking and reflection on contemporary topics.
The UNAM Theater not only reaffirmed its dedication to the production and promotion of national theater but also broadened its scope by producing 11 new plays. Eight of these were original productions and three were co-productions. Highlights included "Microscopic Views of Particular Landscapes", "The Maids: An Endless War", "Barracuda", "Weed", "A Non-Monster That Doesn't Fly", and "The Good Soul of Sezuan". These plays tackled socially significant issues such as mental health, forced disappearances, violence, migration, and sexual diversity, earning praise for their experimental approach and gender perspective.
In addition to performances in UNAM's traditional theaters like the Juan Ruiz de Alarcón Theater and the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Forum, UNAM Theater extended its program to other cultural venues in Mexico City and beyond. Plays like "Django with a Rope Around His Neck" and "The Eclipse" also featured in prestigious international festivals, including the International University Theater Festival (FITU), which showcased 24 plays and offered 11 workshops, attracting 6,098 spectators.
2024 also marked the 60th anniversary of the Odin Teatret, celebrated with a roundtable discussion led by Eugenio Barba on the Third Theater, a major influence in contemporary theater. The 2nd Colloquium of the Theater Observatory was also held, analyzing the lifecycle of theatrical projects in Mexico.
In the publishing realm, UNAM Theater released several notable publications, including "My Lives in the Third Theater" by Eugenio Barba and "One Hundred Questions About the Theatrical Event" by Jorge Dubatti. They also launched Fanzine volume 2 and the magazine "A Escena", in collaboration with the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters.
The "Comedias' Wagon" project delivered 132 performances, reaching 25,384 people with "The Good Soul of Sezuan" and "That Love of Romeo and Juliet". Looking ahead to 2025, the selection process will begin for the play "The Great Theatre of the World" by Calderón de la Barca, a new initiative to continue this tradition.
Throughout 2024, UNAM Theater has proven itself as a cultural and performing arts touchstone, recognized for its ability to reshape reality through theater. The curtain will next rise on January 16, 2025, with fresh proposals set to continue pushing the boundaries of thought and creativity. For a full rundown of 2024's activities, visit the UNAM Theater's official website or follow their social media @TeatroUNAM.
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