THEATRE REAFFIRMS AND RECONSTRUCTS
THE HISTORIC MEMORY OF SALVADORAN WOMEN

San Jose, August 26, 2009.  Wings of the Butterfly

In the next few days, a series of performances will be held in El Salvador of the play, Labyrinth of the Butterflies, as well as other artistic and educational activities aimed at raising awareness of women’s rights and their struggles for equality and justice entitled, "Thresholds of Democracy and Renaming History for Women" (Umbrales de democracia y renombrando las Historia para Las Mujeres). 

As part of a national tour, these activities will take place August 29th - September 2nd with the support of the Salvadoran Institute of Women’s Development (ISDEMU) and the Secretariat of Culture in a program designed to recover the historic memory of the country’s women and revitalize their movements and connections.

The Labyrinth of the Butterflies Photo by Margaret Thompson

Prudencia en Tiempo de Brujería Foto por ivanfoto16

The artistic exchange between the Costa Rican theatre production and the Salvadoran play, Prudencia in the Times of Witchcraft, forms  part of a special effort to promote and strengthen feminist and women’s organizations and encourage dialogue and communication among them and with ISDEMU through theatre performances that weave together and affirm women’s voices and struggles. The Salvadorean Women for Development Movement (MSM) has been a key organizer along with local Petateras.

The Labyrinth of the Butterflies will be performed twice in the Third International University Theatre Festival, dedicated this year to the University of El Salvador’s theatre program.  The festival will be held from August 29 to September 6, 2009 in the Luis Poma Theatre in San Salvador and is designed to encourage exchanges between university and independent artists from Central America and beyond.  Labyrinth performances will be given on the 29th at 7pm and on the 30th at 5pm. 

The artistic educational tour includes a performance at the National Theatre of El Salvador, on August 31st at 10am.  That afternoon, María Suárez Toro, author of the book, Women, metamorphosis of the butterfly effect, on which the play is based, will discuss the book along with Valerie Miller of JASS  (Just Associates).  The Wings of the Butterfly initiative that sponsors the play will name Prudenica Ayala as an honorary ‘Butterflier.’   Refreshments will be served.

Two provincial-level performances will also be held at the San Miguel National Theatre, including September 2nd  at 10am.  For another show, on September 1st the Labyrinth cast will accompany the play Prudencia in the Times of Witchcraft, in its performance at the National Theatre of Santa Ana at 10am.

The idea of bringing the Labyrinth to El Salvador came from the Petateras, Wings of the Butterfly and JASS´ Mar de Cambios initiative recognizing the current political context of El Salvador's history.  Many women have greeted this particular moment with high expectations, a moment of electoral triumph made possible by a broad coalition of Salvadorans that has challenged traditional parties and politics and has supported open debates to encourage dialogue between women and men as protagonists, including the participation of women’s organizations.

The tour is supported and sponsored in part by UNIFEM and its efforts to promote the participation of civil society in the activities, and the regional launch of the UN General Secretary’s Campaign for the Elimination of Violence against Women in 2009, as well as the initiatives of CIPD + 15 emphasizing women’s health.

These artistic and educational efforts have been made possible by the sponsorship and generous support of the Petateras, JASS, UNIFEM, CARE, UNFPA, HIVOS, the Global Fund for Women and philanthropic contributions made by several individual donors from the United States linked to human rights efforts in solidarity with the people of El Salvador during the struggles against the military dictatorships and beyond.

About the theatre productions:

The Labyrinth of the Butterflies by the Costa Rican playwright, Ailyn Morera, is a production of the Wings of the Butterfly initiative which had its national debut on November 4, 2008 in Costa Rica, and its international debut on November 16th in South Africa that same year.  It is presented by the Costa Rican theatre troupe Archipelago and Wings of the Butterfly.  The play highlights a diversity of women – diverse in age, nationality, race, ethnicity, physical abilities, etc. – from the sciences, arts, and activism during moments of historic significance to the world, whose experiences and contributions to society have largely gone unrecognized.  Ailyn Morera directs a cast of four and a technical crew of three.  The author of the book upon which the play is based and the producer of Wings of the Butterfly web page travel with the cast to document and share perspectives about the production, which serves as a catalyst for social change.

Prudencia in the Times of Witchcraft is a production of the Salvadoran Women’s Association (AMS).  Its text was written by Ricardo Lindo in collaboration with the Strategic Team of AMS who assisted and advised in the editing of the script.  It debuted this year with the national theatre troupe, Scene X, under the direction of Cesar Pineda, who directed a cast of seven artists and dancers and a technical crew  of three.

Prudencia Ayala was the first Salvadoran woman who dared to question the hegemonic system of exclusion of women in political participation.  She died in oblivion in 1936.

For more information go to: www.alasdemariposa.org
Or write to info@alasdemariposa.org