The XXXIII Salon de Teatro Costumbrista Asturiano de Candás: A Summer Theatrical Event to Remember

Tonight, at nine o’clock, the XXXIII Salon de Teatro Costumbrista Asturiano de Candás begins, sponsored by LA NUEVA ESPAÑA. Alain Fernandez He is the director of the Teatro Prendes where this consolidated theatrical event is held until August 27, with a performance each day and which includes eleven premieres, in addition to the “Aurora Sánchez” Awards Gala, which will take place on Friday, September 1 . Fernández assesses in this interview that the schedule change that was proposed in last year’s edition “is here to stay.” The person in charge of Prendes assures that they have doubled the number of subscribers compared to 2022 and this gives clues to the success they hope to achieve this summer. The Hall has one more function this year and affirms that the companies want to return to Candás as “a meeting place” among the entire Asturian costumbrismo scene.

What are the new features for this edition?

–This year we have one more function. We went from twelve to thirteen days in a row with functions, although we must add the “Aurora” Awards Gala, which will take place on September 1. In addition, there will be eleven world premieres.

–What suggestions have the theater groups made in the months prior to the Salon?

–We organized some meetings with the theater companies and this year we have mainly valued the change of criteria with respect to the jury. In 2022, for the first time, there were technical personnel who were the ones who determined the nominations and the winners in the categories that were not acting. We all value it very positively and have taken into account which criteria should have more weight for the technical jury to consider.

There will be, therefore, two types of jury.

–The technical jury, with the assessment of the technicians of the Prendes de Candás theater, will be in charge of considering the most outstanding aspects in the “Aurora” awards that do not have to do with interpretation. As for the social jury, there will be five members, who repeat one more year. These do take into account the performances of actresses and actors. In addition, the popular vote is important and the subscribers who will see all the works will be able to vote and give the “Aurora” of the public to the best work in the Hall.

–The schedule continues at nine at night. Do you think it is the best?

–Last year we made the change from eleven to nine at night and yes, it is the best. We have changed habits as a result of the pandemic and we have seen that in the 2022 edition we recovered people who had stopped going to the Show because it was held at eleven at night and they considered it late. The changeover at nine o’clock at night was valued very positively by both the public, especially the young, as well as the theater companies themselves that before had finished dismounting at dawn and then marched to their places of origin. But it is also that the hotel industry has valued it very positively also because the change also benefits them. When the theater ends, many people enjoy the wide gastronomic offer that we have in Candás. Indeed, the change has come to stay.

We doubled the number of subscribers, that is a good sign and suggests that this edition will be a success with the public

-The Hall starts tonight with a company from Carreño and tomorrow with another from the council.

–Today it is the turn of «Les Ayalgues de Carreño», who return to the Salon to premiere a new work. The City Council commissioned the author Carmen Campo Mier a work that she wrote for them and they return to the Hall with this work. The function of “Les Ayalgues” is added to those of the group of companies that participated in the 2022 edition. The second day there will also be another group from Carreño. It is the Cultural Group «Xana», from Perlora.

–Has the selection of companies for the show been complicated?

–The selection has been easier than ever. Everyone wanted to participate in the Hall and really return to the normality of life.

–Can you see the enthusiasm?

–They want to be in the Hall because they themselves say that it is like a meeting point. It is not only a showcase for theater companies facing the public and cultural managers and programmers, but it is also a meeting point. They see each other, congratulate each other, value each other, in addition to generating and exchanging ideas, especially in technical aspects. The Hall is an unmissable event for all those who love the theater of manners.

-And one more year the majority wants to open in Candás.

–It is appreciated and admirable that they dare to premiere at the Salon every summer. And they dare mainly because they know that it is the first showcase that all companies have for the rest of the year. They put all their effort, dedicate many hours and even change their summer vacations to brand new in Candás. Also thanks to the coverage and criticism of LA NUEVA ESPAÑA, without a doubt.

–The afternoon of skits is also consolidated.

–It is a way of wanting to promote the return of the sainetes. In this case it will be on Monday, the 21st, with a performance by José Ramón Oliva and Nacho Fernández. We also intend to launch the proposal to theater companies so that for next year’s edition they write original skits to renew this afternoon. It worked very well in these last editions, but we want there to be new work so as not to repeat the texts. An art as ours as the sainete must continue to be promoted.

–What is the profile of the new public that brings together the Hall?

–In last year’s edition, with the time change, we had an increase in audience, especially towards the new young audience. Young people from the age of 30 begin to get hooked on costumbrista theater and this is very positive. But they do it not only because there is a time change but above all because of the themes that are addressed in the plays. Also because the costumbrista theater is one more step towards the normalization of Asturian. Although there are companies that take themselves very seriously and are strict when it comes to using Asturian, all the groups are normalizing our language, including all its variants. The new authors of Asturian costumbrista theater also have a lot to say about this.

– Do you hope to fill the capacity of the Teatro Prendes?

–We have doubled the number of subscribers compared to last year and that is a good sign. Everything leads us to hope that this year’s Salon will be a success and that the public will gather every night at the Teatro Prendes.

2023-08-15 02:30:40
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