Presented by Osvaldo Sandoval-Leon in the Department of Romance Language and Literature

Political Theater Workshops

“Stage Rehearsals on Disappearance”

Facilitator: Cristian Flores Rebolledo

• Dates and times:

• Workshops: March 23-25 (6:00-9:00 PM) 

• Presentation by Participants: March 28 (6:00 PM)

• Location: Arts at the Palace (19 Utica St.)

• Colgate Calendar here 

• More information here

• Registration here 

Political Theater in Latin America emerged strongly in the mid-20th century as a response to social injustice, dictatorship, and inequality. It seeks to raise political awareness, denounce oppression, and mobilize audiences toward collective action. At the same time, Documentary Theater (teatro documental) blends fact and performance by using real testimonies, historical documents, and archival materials. It focuses on memory, truth, and justice, often revisiting traumatic national histories such as dictatorships, disappearances, and political violence. This form became especially prominent after the military regimes of the 1970s–80s. The goal is to bear witness and provoke critical reflection on collective history and state violence.

Description:

This series of workshops are conceived as a space for research and creation centered on memory, with a focus on the concept of the Disappeared and the phenomenon of “enforced disappearance.” The topics will be approached from a broad documentary perspective. Through stage-based and “documentary” practices, participants will collectively explore various dimensions of these subjects, drawing on the diversity of their bodies, intellects, and sensibilities, with the aim of discovering new possibilities for contemporary representation. The workshop will culminate in a performative presentation that marks the opening of an ongoing process. Throughout the sessions, participants will engage in exchanges of ideas and collaborative exploration of theatrical elements and themes. Working in a collective environment, they will be encouraged to experiment and innovate creatively—through movement, language, and symbolism—while forging connections across the arts, language studies, and the social sciences. One of the workshop’s central goals is to inspire participants to continue engaging with cultural and political issues through the critical lenses of theatre and performance.

All events are free and open to all faculty members, students, and community members. We are grateful for the support of all of our co-sponsors!

For additional information, contact Osvaldo Sandoval-Leon (osandoval@colgate.edu)