The House of Bernarda Alba

The House of Bernarda Alba (originally La Casa de Bernarda Alba) was written in Spring 1936, a few months before his assassination. The play was unable to be performed or published until 1945, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, thanks to actress Margarita Xirgu, a longtime friend and collaborator of Lorca.

 

Lorca’s final play revolves around a community– and a society– with traditional values, in which he aimed to represent “España profunda (Deeper Spain).” A sociological–literary movement focused on describing a rural Spain that was marginalized, diverse, and suffering socially and economically. Inspired by a true family, Bernarda Alba’s home breathes a toxic air, poisoning the family with hate, envy, and appearances. The daughters, trapped in the house for 8 years against their will, slowly resent each other as they discuss Pepe El Romano’s love, gender roles, and desire to be freed. A representation of artists, youth, and the Republic, Lorca showed how these daughters are tainted and pushed to the edge by the oppression towards them. 

 

In a country on the brink of collapse, The House of Bernarda Alba was a warning sign of how traditional values– and for some, the importance of maintaining them– create tension and tyranny. Today, Lorca’s final play is as relevant as ever, evident by the suppression and inequality faced by women in the workplace and in home life. Bernarda Alba serves as a fuse for the daughter’s ticking bomb, portraying the “black and white” lifestyle to follow, and how authority is not to be questioned. Nevertheless, Lorca understood the impact of his surroundings, and his last play criticizes these norms that often shackle humans, allowing them at the end– though in a tragic manner– to reclaim their identity and fight for liberty. 

 

A play translated and adapted across the world, The House of Bernarda Alba’s message of personal freedom and standing up for a just society is as relevant and important as in 1936.

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On this Dramaturgical website, you'll find two things: information  regarding the World of the Play for this production, and  an interactive Character Work section to build upon. In  "Spain: 1930s" you'll read about  the years before and during The House of Bernarda Alba,  what was going on with the government, with rural Spain, and how society worked.  Similar, an important part of this adaptation is its honor to Lorca's original text; in "Federico García Lorca," we'll work to understand the life of this revolutionary artist and what motivated him. Lastly, there is the "Character Work"  space, the section for us to build the characters,: their goals, personalities, dynamics, and so much more. This website is for your use, to navigate and find what stands out about the community your characters live on, as well as recommend (and ask) for further clarification/information. I'm very excited to begin this collaboration process with each and every one of you!

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In case of any questions, comments, or queries, please see the section below!

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Con cariño,

Jesús (Dramaturg)