Spanish Theater: 1940 to Today - Postwar Drama & Beyond

Spanish Theater: 1940 to Today

The harsh conditions following the Spanish Civil War significantly impacted literary creation. The theater experienced an intense crisis, with authors becoming scarce due to strict censorship.

Triumphant Theater in the Postwar Period

The triumphant theater in the immediate postwar period suggests a clear continuity with the forms and dramatic themes that existed before the Spanish Civil War. This era includes authors who viewed theatrical shows in the style of Jacinto Benavente, Jose Maria Pemán, Luca de Tena, and Calvo Sotelo. Besides high comedy, the dramatic landscape of the postwar period shows a clear trend toward humor in theater. The most outstanding representatives are Jardiel Poncela and Miguel Mihura.

Jardiel Poncela and Absurdist Humor

Jardiel Poncela (Four Hearts with Brake and Reverse, Heloise is Beneath an Almond Tree) sought humor in thinking through improbable and absurd situations.

Miguel Mihura and Critical Power

The literary evolution of Miguel Mihura is marked by Three Top Hats, written in 1932. Its critical and corrosive power prevented its representation until 1952, when the Spanish Theater University (TEU) staged it to enormous success. Mihura's remaining production after these dates highlights Maribel and the Strange Family, and Ninette de Murcia.

Social Drama in the 1950s

The 1950s saw the rise of social drama, committed to human problems. Antonio Buero Vallejo and Alfonso Sastre are the most outstanding authors. They moderately raised a theater critic who could premiere and reach the audience, a theater risky, but not reckless. The author should write what they think and feel, but their works are censored. Buero Vallejo's notable works include The Skylight and History of a Ladder.

Alfonso Sastre and Social Awareness

Alfonso Sastre viewed the theater as a means of awareness and agitation. Sastre intended to investigate the human condition and examine its relationships with society, creating a protest and tragic drama that invites reflection on the need for social change (Bracket to Death).

Traditional Theater from the 1960s Onward

From the 1960s, this line of more traditional theater continued, based on dialogue. Key authors include Antonio Gala (Rings for a Drama), José Luis Alonso de Santos (Get Off the Moor), José Sancho Sinisterra (Ay, Carmela!), and Fernando Fernan Gomez (Bicycles Are for Summer).

Disruptive and Innovative Forms

A much more disruptive slope emerged from the point of view of form, with authors such as Fernando Arrabal (Picnic), Francisco Nieva, and Miguel Romero Este. This period also witnessed the flowering of several theater groups that represented the most innovative Spanish scene: Joglars, Els Comediants, Fura dels Baus, and La Cubana. Fernando Arrabal eventually moved to France, with his most prominent work being Picnic.