Have you booked yet for Spanish Theatre Company’s definitive production of Lorca’s 1936 classic The House of Bernarda Alba (La Casa de Bernarda Alba)? Artistic director Jorge de Juan’s production at the custom-built Cervantes Theatre, London’s dedicated home to Spanish and Latin American drama in London, is now running until 2 December 2017. We’ve rounded up some of our favourite review quotes and gathered audience reactions below…
The House of Bernarda Alba explores themes of repression, passion and conformity through the depiction of a matriarch’s domination of her five daughters after the death of her husband. Described by the author as “a drama of women in the villages of Spain,” the deliberate exclusion of any male character from the onstage action helps build the high level of sexual tension that is present throughout this masterpiece.
In the cross-cast 15-strong company, directed by Jorge de Juan, the English cast are Jimena Larraguivel, Maite Jauregui, Mary Conlon (Bernarda), Joanna Kate Rodgers, Gilly Daniels, Pia Laborde, Candela Gomez, Carolina Herran, Moir Leslie and Beth Smith; and the Spanish cast are Jimena Larraguivel, Judith Arkwright, Teresa Cendon, Amparo Climent (Bernarda), Maite Jauregui, Pia Laborde, Lucia Espin, Mayca Estevez, Candela Gomez and Carolina Herran.
The House of Bernarda Alba runs until 2 December 2017, with English-language performances Thursdays to Saturdays at 7.30pm and a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm, and Spanish-language performances Mondays to Wednesdays at 7.30pm, with a Wednesday matinee at 2.30pm.
Review highlights
Chris Omaweng: “This production supplies audiences with food for thought: repression of women need not come from patriarchy to have far-reaching and devastating consequences… A thoughtful and poignant production from the Spanish Theatre Company.”
Holly Barnard: “Powerful, atmospheric and engaging… the impression of intense heat which, combined with the themes of sexual tension, created an interesting dynamic… excellently directed by Jorge du Juan with great performances throughout.”
William Russell: “A powerful performance by Mary Conlon, surface steel and inner rage in the title role, and a strong supporting cast as her sexually frustrated daughters make this latest revival of Lorca’s celebrated play well worth seeing…an impeccable ensemble.”
Howard Loxton: “The production has a strong sense of the heat of the summer and suppressed tension… sometimes bubbling out, but dramatically building to a final tragic eruption. Played in a translation by Carmen Zapata and Michael Dewell, this production is a reminder that Lorca was a poet as well as presenting his penetrating picture of a rigid, regulated society.”
Kike Viguera: “The Spanish tragedy (performed both in Spanish and English) manages to touch the hearts of the audience during the almost two hours of performance. The intimate and elegantly decorated auditorium allows the viewer to fully immerse himself in the action…”
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