Spanish Theater After the Civil War: Trends and Playwrights

Spanish Theater After the Civil War

The Aftermath and Early Trends

After the Civil War, the Spanish theatrical landscape was marked by the exile and disappearance of major playwrights. Following the war, a national theater emerged, supported by the dictatorship and used to transmit its ideology. Both the State and the Church exercised rigid censorship.

Two main dramatic lines developed:

• Teatro de humor (Theater of Humor): Focused on portraying truth through humor. Notable authors include:
  • Enrique Jardiel Poncela (Los ladrones somos honrados - The Thieves Are Honest People)
  • Miguel Miura (Tres sombreros de copa - Three Top Hats)
• Comedia burguesa (Bourgeois Comedy): Aimed to educate through the praise of virtue. Works were characterized by perfect construction (three acts, small dimensions, stylistic qualities in the dialogue). Notable authors include:
  • Jacinto Benavente
  • Luca de Tena (¿Dónde vas, Alfonso XII? - Where Are You Going, Alfonso XII?)
  • José María Pemán
  • Joaquín Calvo Sotelo (La muralla - The Wall)
  • José López Rubio (Celos del aire - Jealousy of the Air)

Several playwrights went into exile, including Rafael Alberti, Alejandro Casona, and Max Aub.

The Rise of Realism

In 1949, Antonio Buero Vallejo's Historia de una escalera (Story of a Staircase) marked a significant shift towards realism. This realistic drama aimed to depict reality on stage.

Realistic theater is characterized by complex scenery and a deeper exploration of the characters. Notable authors include:

• Alfonso Sastre (Escuadra hacia la muerte - Squadron Towards Death)
• Laura Olmo (La camisa - The Shirt)
• Carlos Muñiz (El tintero - The Inkwell)

Vanguard and Experimental Theater

Vanguard playwrights were heirs to the theater of the absurd and the theater of cruelty. Fernando Arrabal and Francisco Nieva created original dramas that often faced challenges with public acceptance.

• Fernando Arrabal also developed "panic theater," characterized by confusion, humor, horror, randomness, euphoria, and minimal set design. A notable work is El cementerio de automóviles (The Car Cemetery).
• Francisco Nieva's work is known for its scenic complexity, multiple sets, and careful crafting of language. A notable work is Pelo de tormenta (Hair of the Storm).

Symbolist Theater

Symbolist works displayed an avant-garde, symbolist style, often with a marked pessimism and a reliance on animal symbolism. They employed a language with elements of filth and aggression, frequently incorporating provocative themes related to sexuality.

The Heirs of Bourgeois Comedy

This trend, which triumphed in the 1960s, repeated past patterns. It represented an unchanging stage, with characters detached from social problems. Notable authors include:

• Alfonso Paso (El último tranvía - The Last Streetcar)
• Jaime Salom (La casa de las chivas - The House of the Goats)

The Independent Theater Movement

The independent theater movement was characterized by a rejection of conservative shows, the development of a distinctive aesthetic, and attempts at self-financing. Notable groups include Dagoll Dagom, El Tricicle, and La Cuadra.