MIAMI, United States. – From December 3 to 8, the Teatros del Canal in Madrid, Spain, will welcome a reinterpretation of Celestinaby Fernando de Rojas, in an Afro-Cuban key. This version, written by Cuban playwright Norge Espinosa and directed by Carlos Diazis a joint production by Fundarte of Miami and Teatro El Público of Havana, presented as part of the Canal Hispanidad cycle.
With this staging, Díaz, recognized for his irreverent and provocative style, offers an adaptation that transfers the action to the environment of a Havana neighborhood. “Celestina It is a large work, a hotbed where you can go and collect whatever you want; I think a lot of people put their hand there,” reflects the director in the press release announcing the presentations.
In this setting, the figure of Celestina is “a woman who mends other women who have lost their virginity so that they can deceive men,” explained Díaz, who assured that this version is conceived with Cuban actors residing in Spain.
The love of Calixto and Melibea, mediated by the famous pimp, continues to be the core of the work, but with a reading that highlights the tensions between desire and morality, flesh and money, and reality and sorcery. According to Díaz, this Spanish Renaissance classic remains relevant because it reflects universal and timeless conflicts.
It is not the first time that Díaz tackles this work. In Havana, more than two decades ago, he directed a version that generated controversy and was described as “scandalous,” but which for critics “honored the spirit of the original text.” However, the director highlights that this new proposal is completely different: “In the first one I did, nothing stuck; It was the one at that moment. This has other paths, other views.”
The staging combines elements of Afro-Cuban folklore with Iberian traditions, reinterpreted from a Caribbean perspective. In the director’s words, it is a work that interweaves eroticism, sensuality and a political subtext that connects with contemporary concerns. This rereading also stands out for its carnival atmosphere, a characteristic of Díaz, which reinforces the emotional intensity of the characters and the complexity of their relationships.
The world premiere of this version of Celestina It took place on July 1 and 2, 2023 at the Corral de Comedias in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. The work was presented as part of the Ibero-American Festival of the Golden Age of the Community of Madrid.
In January of this year, Díaz also he directed four performances of the work at the Miami-Dade County Auditoriumin Florida. This milestone was possible thanks to FUNDarte, a multidisciplinary non-profit organization dedicated to producing, presenting and promoting art and culture in the city of the sun.
