Galician Theater Evolution 1965-1980: Key Authors and Groups

The Theater in Galicia Between 1965 and 1980

The socio-economic conditions existing in Galicia since the mid-sixties provided a recovery of theatrical activities.

Emergence of Theater Groups

Theater groups emerged, such as O Facho (1965), directed by Manuel Lorenzo and founded in Madrid at Teatro Circo.

In 1973, the First Exhibition of Theater of Ribadavia was celebrated to serve as a starting point and meeting place for many authors and groups of our country, such as Ditea, O Facho, Teatro Popular Keizer, Máscara 17, Artello, A Farándula, and others.

Prominent Authors of the Ribadavia Samples

Linked to these samples in Ribadavia, we have the following authors:

Euloxio Rodríguez Ruibal (Ordes, 1945)

As an author of experimental theater, his work consists of three stages throughout his career as a playwright:

• The first stage uses techniques of film language against violence and oppression. Pieces from this phase include Zardigot (1974) and The Anniversary (1976).
• The second stage features works with great comic characters, such as Azos de Esguello (1989) and A Dote da Macana (1990).
• In 1996, belonging to the third stage, he wrote Uation, an allegorical tragedy of character.

Manuel Lorenzo (O Valadouro, Ferreira, 1943)

He is a prolific author of over sixty works. His career can be classified into three stages:

• Mythic cycle: Comprised of pieces that recreate mythical characters of Greek theater, such as Pilgrimage of the Caves of the Devil (1975) and Electra (1994).
• Historical cycle: Historical characters appear, as seen in Jeanne (1991).
• Cycle of dramatic urgency: This includes experimental theater and social criticism, such as Magnetism (1996).

Roberto Vidal Bolaño (Santiago de Compostela, 1950–2002)

An author, actor, and director, Bolaño followed two main trends: on one hand, he cultivated symbolic drama with popular roots, and on the other, a path reflecting a pessimistic view of life.

Among his works is Ledaíñas pola morte do Meco (where the protagonist and the people must discover the identity of the Meco, identifying him with the foreign oppression that exploits the lower classes). The second part is Laudamuco, Señor de Ningures, which discusses the subject of a tyrant in the decline of his power. One of his latest works in the same line as the previous ones is Saxo Tenor (1993).