Bringing alternative and independent theater closer to the public of Lanzarote. That is the objective of the GA-TEA Cultural Association (Grupo Amateur Teatro Estudio Arrecife). Therefore, from February 8 to May 2, 12 companies from the peninsula and the Canary Islands will perform works of this type on Fridays and Saturdays in the Librada Alternative Hall of the Altavista Society. This initiative, in which the Arrecife City Council, the Cabildo and the César Manrique Foundation, among others, have also collaborated, was presented this Wednesday morning.
Through this initiative, we want to give a place in the cultural program to alternative and independent theater, since normally, as Maribel Arduan, secretary of GA-TEA, has pointed out, commercial theater is usually used. "The theatrical programming that the island has is practically offered by the institutions, Cabildo, etc. (?), and they move through commercial circuits," she said. However, "the majority of companies in Spain are independent and alternative theater and we think it would be interesting to bring this type of initiative to Lanzarote", said the secretary of GA-TEA.
Through the programmed works, the aim is to attract a new and young audience that does not go to the theater because it seems "very conservative". The programming is practically closed. Thus, to start the month of February, the Zaragoza company Dispara Teatro will perform "Enamorados y Criados" on Friday the 8th and Saturday the 9th; the Tarambana company from Madrid "Princesas Busconas" on Friday the 15th and Saturday the 26th; Amanttis Teatro "Criaturas" on the 22nd and 23rd; and Abrego Producciones from Cantabria "El Corazón de Antígona" on February 29th and March 1st. Tickets, which are not yet on sale, will cost 8 euros except for children's plays and can be purchased at El Almacén, Luna Record and at the TEA facilities, in the Altavista Society.
For his part, the Culture Councilor of the Cabildo, Miguel González, has stated that with this program of alternative and independent theater "a new possibility is opened to theatrical practice and culture in general in Lanzarote, this is absolutely new". He also stated that this initiative "has come from the work and effort of a group of people who have been fighting for many years with institutions, private entities and with everyone, so that theater has a place in the cultural and social life of Lanzarote".
Although the companies will not charge a fee for their performances, to cover the expenses of this initiative, the Arrecife City Council has collaborated with 6,000 euros and the Cabildo has not set the amount with which it will help finance it, but will participate by covering the expenses of establishment, travel, etc. GA-TEA for its part will perform the play "Vampires" this Friday, January 18, starting at 9:00 p.m. in the Librada Alternative Hall. The box office revenue will be used to finance the programming of the initiative. "Vampires" is a satire of the destruction of the earth, in which some bankers go to Mars to get money.
