The patron saint festivals of the capital neighborhood of Titerroy began this Friday with an emotional opening speech. The inaugural event was starred by several members of the emblematic local version of Jesus Christ Superstar, performed between 1977 and 1980 by young people from the neighborhood itself.
During the opening speech, the participants not only recalled that outstanding cultural stage, but also offered the public the representation of some scenes, awakening the nostalgia and enthusiasm of the attendees.
Likewise, the deputy mayor and councilor for Festivals of the Arrecife City Council, Echedey Eugenio, took the floor, who highlighted the importance of keeping popular traditions alive and emphasized the neighborhood involvement in the organization of these festivals, encouraging citizens to actively participate in the scheduled events.
The town criers, Lorenzo Lemaur and Olga Lasso, accompanied by a large representation of those children and young people who participated in the initiative, recalled the “audacity” of bringing this ambitious work to the stage in 1977, becoming a social and cultural milestone in Lanzarote.
Under the direction of Olga Lasso and with the involvement of families such as the Lasso Tabares and Fuentes Luis, the first performances were held in February and March 1977 at the Colegio Dominicas. Subsequently, the group from the Asociación Juvenil San José Obrero premiered the play on August 13 of that same year in the plaza of Haría, initiating a tour that reached a dozen performances throughout the island, culminating in April 1980 in the parish of San José Obrero in Titerroy.
Almost one hundred children and young people from the neighborhood participated in that initiative, today all over 60 years old, in an experience that transcended the artistic to become an educational and social project.
José Domingo Morera, who played Pilate, recalled that it all began "during recess in the courtyard of the Benito Méndez School," where the idea arose that quickly mobilized all the students in the Cultural Hall.
For his part, Blas Trujillo recalled the incorporation of other young people from the neighborhood, while Saro Martín Noda highlighted the participation of many girls who joined the project, consolidating a diverse and committed group.
The main roles fell to those who had previously worked on the play, highlighting performances such as Mamerto Cabrera in the role of Jesus, Trini Allí as Mary Magdalene, or the Curbelo brothers in the roles of Judas and Caiaphas.
The testimony of Ricardo Tavío highlighted the community nature of the initiative: “We were children from humble families, but with a lot of imagination. We did everything in a homemade way, with the help of neighbors and with enormous enthusiasm”. Tavío also underlined the social impact of the project, emphasizing that activities like this contributed to offering healthy alternatives to young people at a time marked by social difficulties.
Other testimonies like those of Marisol Tavío or Macarena García reflected how rehearsals and tours around the island became vital experiences, which strengthened friendship, coexistence, and knowledge of the environment.
The proclamation concluded with special recognition for Lorenzo Lemaur and Rafael Allí, promoters of the initiative, as well as for the neighborhood families, whose support was key to the project's development.
Almost five decades later, that experience continues to be a benchmark for community participation, creativity, and social commitment in Titerroy, and an example of the transformative role of culture in youth.
After the conclusion of the opening speech, the festivities continued with the performance of the group Graduado Escolar, which provided the musical closing to the opening of the celebrations. The festivities will take place in the Titerroy neighborhood until next May 1st.
The event was attended by the following authorities: Pedro Viera, insular director of the General Administration of the State in Lanzarote. the senator for the Canary Islands Pedro Sanginés, Captain Álvaro Hurtado Varela, Head of the UAPRO Marqués de Herrera, and the parish priest of the neighborhood, Juan Carlos Medina Medina.