Evolution of Spanish Drama and Contemporary Theatre

Contemporary Spanish Drama

The theatrical genre has changed significantly. Spanish postwar impoverishment led to a specific dramatic production and a break with the avant-garde theater. This evolution moved from bourgeois theater and social drama into a more symbolic and experimental critical style known as the New Theatre. Current theater is intended to reflect the concerns of the new Spanish society and search for new expressive languages, characterized by the presence of national theaters and independent companies.

Postwar Theatre and the Civil War Impact

The Spanish Civil War marked a break with cultural traits prior to the conflict. Theatrical production during this time was often of low quality, constrained by several factors: the death or exile of great dramatists, a public preference for simple and traditional theater, and strict prior censorship applied by the regime, which determined the content of plays or prevented their staging.

Key Movements in Postwar Theatre

1. Bourgeois Theatre

This was entertainment designed for a bourgeois audience. It focused on formal care and well-constructed works. Common topics included infidelity in marriage and conflicts between fathers and sons, usually ending with a happy ending. Characters were typically well-to-do, set in comfortable surroundings.

2. Poetic Theatre

The thematic focus centered on the conflict between reality and fantasy. It defended love, understanding, and freedom as methods to overcome conflict. A key figure in this movement is Alejandro Casona.

3. Humor Theatre

Characterized by unbelievable situations and ridiculous dialogue, this style offered an ironic and evasive critique of the society of the time. This humor is an heir to the theater of Pedro Muñoz Seca. Notable authors include Enrique Jardiel Poncela and Miguel Mihura.

4. Social Drama

This is a realistic drama with a dedicated vocation for complaint. It attempts to reflect and criticize violence and social injustice. Antonio Buero Vallejo and Alfonso Sastre were the two most important playwrights of this movement.

The New Theatre and Avant-Garde Influences

The New Theatre collected avant-garde influences from foreign drama. Its production represents a break with traditional ways of conceiving drama, focusing more on aesthetics than content. It adopts a critical attitude towards contemporary society, though this criticism is often allegorical rather than purely realistic. It follows two main trends:

• Experimental Theatre: The text is not a priority; instead, it emphasizes plastic items and a new concept of stage space. Fernando Arrabal is a key figure.
• Vanguard Theatre: Continued focus on innovative forms and aesthetics.

Current Theatre Trends

Modern Spanish theater is defined by several key features:

• Renewed National Theaters: These institutions opt for large-scale assemblies and the recovery of classics from all historical periods.
• Return to Traditional Lines: Many authors have returned to a more conventional dramatic language, close to realism, where content prevails over form.
• Independent Companies: These companies develop their own unique theatrical languages, dominated by a desire for constant renewal.