Almagro Festival comes to naked and unfurnished 
Festival Teatro Clásico de Almagro, Spain, is not questions, along with Merida, one of the most important in this matter within the English-speaking theatrical world.
In its edition XXXI, Mexico again after many years (like me in this blog after nine months - I was born?, Have you woke up?, "And I died ? -) to present "The commitment of a Casa" de Sor Juana Inés de La Cruz, directed by José Solé, whom the National Institute of Fine Arts wanted to honor the 50 years of his career. Perhaps, indeed, but to no avail ... Rather achieved otherwise.
The long history of mishaps and misunderstandings that have accompanied the process of creating this show is just the preamble to that yesterday and day before yesterday was discovered as the best example of what is happening in the institutions Mexico's culture.
would take too long to tell, and do not want to spend my back (at last!) this blog in useless words. Be more illuminating is the text I sent a friend in Spain (Sergio Hernández), who had the pleasure of contact after several attempts, thanks to the intercession of the dear friends (and friends .... Goyo, do not forget) Cultural Association MARU-JASP of Alcalá de Henares. In this blog I send a big hug and a deep appreciation that I take the liberty to also express, on behalf of fellow playwrights concerned and feels anyone who benefited from the support measures that the English and Mexican colleagues we helped launch in the early hours of panic.
A personal thank deserve mention (plus Cite l @ s and @ s) , Alejandro Aura, Milagros Revenga, Gema Aparicio, Manuela Lema, Armando G. Tejeda, Iris Nava, Alberto Castillo, Margarita Hernandez, Isabel Longhi and all those who have expressed interest or have supported hundreds of appropriate e-mail forwarding or writing in their blogs, to make the public know what happened between June 30 and July 2 the company that was representing Mexico at Almagro.
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(IN THE EARLY HOURS OF JULY 2):
Hello, My name is Marcelo Galván and I write from Mexico.
is Admittedly, the above message is unclear, because we did a patchwork of information a little messy in the post by the urgency of the situation.
I'm an actor, partner and friend of some members of the company.
The specific issue is that the National Institute of Fine Arts of Mexico (INBA), resources are not due to an economic crisis caused by the severe budget cuts to all cultural institutions. Even knowing this, they set up the project of "the efforts of a House" for the Festival of Almagro, also as a tribute to José Solé for his 50 year career. Over the past
weeks of installation, the actors were working without getting hard, and with the promise that there would be a season on his return from Spain to make the effort and pay. The sets and costumes could not be completed on time due to lack of money, so that the opening in Mexico was canceled. However, the company had to give functions to meet the commitment (to justify the budget of the institution), acting in a tracksuit ("pants" in Mexican-gringo) for schools, with the promise that everything would be ready to Almagro ( Lie No. 1).
They made a provisional payment (almost all) and told that Spain would give the rest (LIE NUMBER 2).
Yesterday, the first function, there was no news of the cargo containing (supposedly) set and costumes. At first it seemed a matter of customs. They turned to the Institute of Mexico in Spain to rescue the load I made the appropriate arrangements. ROLE missing packets to release .... this paper was the proof of payment, which did not exist (nonsense NUMBER 1) And there was because, to our knowledge not paid any import duty, so it could not deliver the cargo.
On the other hand, Almagro reach informed members of the company that had not money to pay what was promised (nonsense NUMBER 2)
Several members traveling without their own money, because it did not work on anything else in recent weeks, since testing absorbed them all the time. I do not know as in Spain (eg Classical Theatre Company) but here the tests are not paid. There were people who had no money for the fare and went by bicycle to work. This may sound normal if it were an amateur company or a small group alternative (this said with all respect to them), but here we are talking about the Company's National Institute of Fine Arts, whose English equivalent would be the center National Drama ...
The issue is complicated because the company's provisional theory occupies the site of what would be the National Theater Company of Mexico (that is, in theory, the highest representative of the performing arts in the country), but at the same time, the is generating another project, sponsored by the National Council for Culture and the Arts (CONACULTA), which is subordinate to the INBA also to create a new company (which is not new, it has never existed as such. only meet casts for assembly and then dissolved.) This "new" company, emerged on the initiative of Luis de Tavira, intelligent man Theatre, an institution, and with strong ties to the circles of power. This Master moves his great influence to carry out their project and no one can deny. The problem is that the project absorbed much of the budget for the theater across the country, affecting other works (like this one is now in Almagro).
For instance: It is said that in 1997, Luis de Tavira assembly of "El Caballero de Olmedo" absorbed much of the cultural budget, which Opera Season of Fine Arts had to postpone or cancel several of its shows scheduled . Translated to Spain, this would mean for example I would say that the Theatre Royal did not have its operating season because the budget for this was given to an assembly of the Abbey Theatre ... Is not it absurd? ... That's how you move the item around here. However
. In general the actors and actresses from Mexico DO NOT HAVE SOCIAL SECURITY, because (90%) work "fee", ie self-employed. There is no employer-employee contract, but a professional arts service purchase with a receipt or invoice. That is, the actor serves as PROVIDER of the institution, not as an employee, so anyone who is required to work as an actor obviously has the right to be insured (and each other, or social security or anything), because in theory WON ENOUGH to private health insurance to pay us. There the union ANDA (National Association of Actors), but that would be a topic for another long and judicious analysis.
I invite you to ask the actors and actresses mexican @ s in Almagro carry much money. I invite you to ask them if they are insured by the institution that carries .... you go!!
I remember at all times that we are not talking about a group or independent project, but professional actors with careers for many years and a director, glory of the National Theatre, Maestro José Solé. I remind you that they "sponsored" by the NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FINE ARTS OF MEXICO.
This is part of the problem, but it is only a reflection of the indifference that exists by our government for the culture. And this is repeated in all instances touching on the cultural, late payments, improper working conditions and without accident insurance (for example, when an actor hanging from a harness in a theater ... if you fall ... no is mutual, no insurance, or hosts ... except the one in the fall to the ground) and conditioned so limited budgets.
then speak the same country that was its chairman at the opening of the Exhibition Centre at the side of the Kings of Spain, speaking of a Mexico of progress, prosperity etc ... but where the culture is not a priority. By the way, also could for example ask the chefs and fucking who are working in the Mexico pavilion in Zaragoza, the same that he was fed to President Calderon, how much they pay per month for working 6 days, 6 in the morning at the end of enclosure .... I know I can tell: 300 euros plus room and board (we're talking about the Expo of Zaragoza, not fair to my people, and these are people just called the race of gastronomy, hired by a company ("Ambrosia" ) which led them made them "a favor" to take an internship at a World Expo .... draw your conclusions.
I hope this is a little clearer.
For now, the urgency was out of step and not ridicule or cancel the functions of Almagro. Yesterday he got the role in a tracksuit. Today, ... today and they managed, for total .... that matter, are some artists who walk in Spain Scoundrels by their caresses.
were trying to get them through the solidarity of some English theater group borrowed a dress from the Golden Age (even though they spent thousands of dollars on a dress that never arrived), but logically, at this time these are changing the higher and more in the region of Almagro, making it difficult that someone could provide something (natural and understandable) comments you
director of the Institute of Mexico or the cultural attaché (is that our embassy has duplicate .... functions) assist (n) to the function tonight. Well I hope that Mr., or both if they attend, they are not dropping their heads in shame to see their representation in the festival giving CHANDAL function ... or who knows .... perhaps in balls (which goes better with the beautiful setting of the Comedy Corral best preserved of the world).
Again thank you for your attention and hopefully this will clear up a few more things. For now I say I spoke a few hours with one of the sisters told me they saw an opportunity to resolve the role of black clothes today ..... "To save the honor" (guess who? Does the institution that sent them "haphazard" an international festival ?)... Hey, you imagine the English athletes in Beijing looking for a few poles and a pair of shorts in an all a hundred "soldiers to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics because the ministry did not see fit to pay them a decent standard .... Well, yes, certainly in Beijing find great deals on "Chinese shops ...."
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TEACHER AND SOLE COMPANY A FEW HOURS FIRST FEATURE
PHOTO: Mayte Garcia / JOURNAL: real City Day
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The text explains it all right?
missing some details of the puzzle we are assembling in the distance ... comments ... Rumors .... just that .... Rumors ... as the one that "someone" at some point asked the members of the company to avoid talking to the press .... Excuse me? "EXCUSE MUAAAA? WHAT ????!!!! QUEEEEEEÉ WHAAAATTT! Actually it sounded like a "recommendation" of a "comrade of the party" to travel with a "delegation" to a festival or sporting event from a country or bloc of Cuba in the 70's .... but no, no, can not be just a rumor, yeah, sure!, because we are in the XXI century and ALSO come from a country with a democratic tradition, ruled by a democratically elected president, where FREEDOM Expression is one of the most highly respected values \u200b\u200b(not to mention HUMAN RIGHTS) ... no, no ... sure you heard wrong.
As expected (sorry to disappoint the naive) working materials never arrived and the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes (uff ... I'm tired of typing so beautiful, long and bombastic name) disowned the matter and peers, as the image of Sor Juana heads this text, took chest. Organizers of the Festival and the citizens of Almagro pitch in and did the theatrical phenomenon.
Grotowsky already said (or actually Barba, who served a little like "black" in the language of "Towards a Poor Theatre") that which, for the theater of, or lights are not needed or costumes, or even a theater, but only the actor and spectator. Even if been well know for months, to avoid false expectations, unnecessary costs (of taxes paid by the people) and a lot of headaches for many people.
The fact is that the functions were good. Especially the second and last, which took action in black dresses with the girls and boys shirt festival. Logical and obvious seems to me to carry the logo of the event that one way or another also took care of the problem and tucked this group of histrionics (and histrionic) ... perhaps even more worthy than the beautiful and expensive clothing that was originally conceived and despite its price ... failed.
Finally, here are the links to the press releases I've managed to collect so far. I think, I feel, I hope and wish to join many more:
keynote address at the newspaper La Jornada, Mexico:
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"SOR Filoteo RESPONSE OF THE CROSS" -mote is mine eeeehhh?? - (ALSO OF THE DAY-Mexico):
pay Yes, replies the INBA
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LAUNCHES DAILY SUMMARY OF DIGITAL-La Mancha:
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metaculture BLOG OF THE UNIVERSAL-Mexico :
migrating Artists and Almagro case
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La Jornada (July 4, 2008)-Mexico :
Amid the confusion, beyond which gave the holder of the coordination of
Manage Theater return the costumes for the CNT
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HUMBERTO MUSSACHIO COMMENTS ON EXonline (7 July 2008)-Mexico:
writer died Field Xorg (...) The National Theatre Company, without clothes
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daily Por Esto! (July 7, 2008), Yucatan, Mexico:
INBA and CNT sample for the institutions that serve no
TODAY, JULY 30, 2008, at 16:30 MADRID, OUR VERY DEAR FINAL FLIGHT ALEJANDRO launched its ... _________________________________________________ 
