Extraordinary And Emotionally Charged – La Casa De Bernarda Alba
02 Dec
Over three nights last week the Drama department delivered a compelling performance of Frederico Garcia Lorca’s La Casa De Bernarda Alba, a bold but dark production about the horrors of repression.
It was a remarkable piece of theatre, disturbing and emotionally charged throughout. Set in the villages of rural Spain in the 1930s, Bernarda, a newly bereaved widow of a wealthy man and the mother of five daughters, declares eight years of mourning, effectively imprisoning her daughters in the house. They live in a strict, regimented environment, a tyranny that has far-reaching consequences.
Thought-provoking and relatable to the modern day, the production explored the murderous silence that is at the core of oppression. Rehearsals were at times intense, but the cast unequivocally rose to the challenge of this exceptional piece of writing. The unfolding dynamics between the mother, the sisters and the servant and their love-hate relationships were handled sensitively, whilst the stark contrasts between moments of chaos and composure were striking.
It was a brilliant performance of a tragic tale. Huge thanks go to all the cast and the behind the scenes team who have worked so hard to pull this extraordinary production together.