On February 11, Teatro Español premieres a play based on Natacha, a novel by feminist writer Luisa Carnés. After her success with Tea Rooms, Laila Ripoll will be responsible for adapting and directing this production. Natalia Huarte -Max Awardfor Best Actress for her work in Psicosis, 4.48-will play the leading role.
Natacha: a tribute to working women
Luisa Carnés was not even 24 years old when she published Natacha. This work, full of subliminal criticism of the conditions in which the suburbs of Madrid found themselves, marked a before and after in the career of the young prose writer of ’27.
In the 1930s, the need for housing had led to the proliferation of shantytowns on the outskirts of the capital. The abandonment and social exclusion suffered by the inhabitants of these totally desolate areas is shown in the story of Natacha, a working class woman of very humble origin who suffers every day from exploitation, lack of references and the fear of being fired.
Natacha’s character shares important traits with her creator: Carnés had to leave school at the age of eleven to work in a workshop making hats. The author is inspired by her own feelings to write the novel, halfway between reality and fiction.
Tickets now available
The play can be seen at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday, until March 30. Tickets are already on sale (18€) on the Teatro Español website (they are flying!). The show is included in the JOBO program, so young people between 16 and 26 years old have a small additional discount.