Dramaturgy
A dramator is a specific role in theater. This person(s) usually research information about the era and setting of the play. They make sure the design choices are historically correct and follow the ideas of the time. We were required to do this before we could start designing our play.
Spanish Civil War Background -
The Spanish Civil War started in 1933 and ended in 1936. The war was based on general ideas of government. Democracy was established after dictator General Primo de Rivera resigned in 1930. During elections, Republicans won all major cities in Spain. However, many problems arose as the new government was being formed. Two important regions in Spain wanted independence – Catalonia and the Basque region. Spain also had a hostile relationship with the Roman Catholic Church. The Great Depression also caused a lot of struggle and financial problems for the people of Spain. Unemployment in agriculture and industrial caused most of the working class to gradually lose support in the Republic. Those in control of the government had very different views on what to do. The government officials started to spread the idea of a capitalist country and even started to seize property of wealthy land owners. That is when rebel groups started to form. The battle was between the Republicans and Nationalists Republicans were loyal to the democratic Spanish Republic and the Nationalists were rebels who disagreed with the government and believed in a communist society. The Republicans were supported by Soviet Union and International Brigades and the Nationalists were supported by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The two sides battled and fought disagreeing on the type of government they believed in. The war ended in 1939, roughly 40,000 to 1,000,000 Spaniards died and the Nationalists won and leader of the rebels, General Francisco Franco ruled as a dictator until his death in 1975.
Lorca’s Life -
Federico Garcîa Lorca was born on June 5, 1898, in Fuente Vaqueros, Spain. He first studied law at the University of Granada but then found discovered a passion for piano and guitar and became an expert. In 1919 he moved to Madrid. In 1927, Lorca became quite famous for his play Marina Pineda who he worked on with good friend Salvador Dali. Lorca moved around for a little. He lived in New York but then returned to Spain in 1931 and wrote multiple plays expressing homosexuality which was forbidden at the time. Lorca then wrote a trilogy of plays which showcased the ideas of love, passion, violence, and death which reflected in his life, one of them being Blood Wedding. During the Spanish Civil war in 1936, Lorca was a made an enemy of Nationalists under command of General Francisco. They ended up finding him and executed him. He was charged with “liberal politics” however many believe he was also shot for being homosexual. His work was forbidden until Francisco died in 1970 and now has resurfaced as an important and influential Spanish poet and playwright.
Andalucia Spain in 1930’s -
Andalucia is located in the South of Spain. It played a major part during the Spanish Civil War, especially in the beginning. It was a fairly rural area on the coast of the Mediterranean mostly known for farming until the rebels used it. Leader of the rebels, General Francisco, set up his headquarters in the capital of Andalucia, Seville. The rebels used Andalucia to bring in and send out supplies and people. Many soldiers from both sides died in Andalucia. Scientists have recently discovered that there are numerous mass graves spread out throughout the entire city. There have been dozens and hundreds of unidentified bodies found there and more yet to be discovered.
Spanish Civil War Background -
The Spanish Civil War started in 1933 and ended in 1936. The war was based on general ideas of government. Democracy was established after dictator General Primo de Rivera resigned in 1930. During elections, Republicans won all major cities in Spain. However, many problems arose as the new government was being formed. Two important regions in Spain wanted independence – Catalonia and the Basque region. Spain also had a hostile relationship with the Roman Catholic Church. The Great Depression also caused a lot of struggle and financial problems for the people of Spain. Unemployment in agriculture and industrial caused most of the working class to gradually lose support in the Republic. Those in control of the government had very different views on what to do. The government officials started to spread the idea of a capitalist country and even started to seize property of wealthy land owners. That is when rebel groups started to form. The battle was between the Republicans and Nationalists Republicans were loyal to the democratic Spanish Republic and the Nationalists were rebels who disagreed with the government and believed in a communist society. The Republicans were supported by Soviet Union and International Brigades and the Nationalists were supported by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The two sides battled and fought disagreeing on the type of government they believed in. The war ended in 1939, roughly 40,000 to 1,000,000 Spaniards died and the Nationalists won and leader of the rebels, General Francisco Franco ruled as a dictator until his death in 1975.
Lorca’s Life -
Federico Garcîa Lorca was born on June 5, 1898, in Fuente Vaqueros, Spain. He first studied law at the University of Granada but then found discovered a passion for piano and guitar and became an expert. In 1919 he moved to Madrid. In 1927, Lorca became quite famous for his play Marina Pineda who he worked on with good friend Salvador Dali. Lorca moved around for a little. He lived in New York but then returned to Spain in 1931 and wrote multiple plays expressing homosexuality which was forbidden at the time. Lorca then wrote a trilogy of plays which showcased the ideas of love, passion, violence, and death which reflected in his life, one of them being Blood Wedding. During the Spanish Civil war in 1936, Lorca was a made an enemy of Nationalists under command of General Francisco. They ended up finding him and executed him. He was charged with “liberal politics” however many believe he was also shot for being homosexual. His work was forbidden until Francisco died in 1970 and now has resurfaced as an important and influential Spanish poet and playwright.
Andalucia Spain in 1930’s -
Andalucia is located in the South of Spain. It played a major part during the Spanish Civil War, especially in the beginning. It was a fairly rural area on the coast of the Mediterranean mostly known for farming until the rebels used it. Leader of the rebels, General Francisco, set up his headquarters in the capital of Andalucia, Seville. The rebels used Andalucia to bring in and send out supplies and people. Many soldiers from both sides died in Andalucia. Scientists have recently discovered that there are numerous mass graves spread out throughout the entire city. There have been dozens and hundreds of unidentified bodies found there and more yet to be discovered.
Visuals -
Here is a Mind Map of the ideas and symbols expressed in Act 1 Scene 3