Theater With and For the People

The 24th edition of the International Spring Theater Gathering, which recently concluded in Granma province was an act of cultural resistance and faith in the power, implications, and concrete contributions of art. In a particularly complex context marked by major electrical energy disruptions, the event was held thanks to the efforts of local authorities, the work of the Provincial Council of Performing Arts, the Cuban Writers and Artists Association, and above all, thanks to the creators themselves, who did not give up on the stage or their audiences.

Performances were held in theaters, but also in parks, communities, schools, and daycare centers... Rarely have we seen, at gatherings of this nature, so many options in such a short time.

One of the strengths of this edition was the diversity of theatrical proposals, both from an aesthetic and conceptual perspective. There were shows aimed at different audiences, from the youngest to adults, with diverse approaches. Beyond the differences in quality, which are in some ways natural in encounters of this kind (although perhaps a greater emphasis on a notion of curatorship would be appropriate), the theater's commitment to its time, to the concrete reality experienced by citizens, to the tensions and urgencies of everyday life, prevailed.

This commitment translates into an essential certainty: theater is not a luxury reserved for times of prosperity, but a vital need in times of crisis. It’s precisely when difficulties increase that art becomes more important as a space for reflection, as a collective encouragement, as a tool for imagining possible futures. Theater, from its own logic and with its specific resources, proposes a dialogue—sometimes hard, often purposeful—with circumstances, a dialogue that does not renounce beauty or critique, that observes reality through the prism of sensitivity and intelligence. The paths of art.

Furthermore, Primavera Teatral is also a meeting place for theater professionals, which fosters the exchange of experiences, collaboration, and the strengthening of training dynamics. In a city like Bayamo, with a rich theatrical tradition and a receptive and enthusiastic audience, this event takes on a special dimension. The hospitality with which artists are welcomed and the human warmth that permeates each performance reaffirm that theater lives, not only on the stage, but in the deep bond it establishes with its people. That, in these times, is no small feat.

Translated by Amilkal Labañino / Cubasi Translation Staff