Neva De Guillermo Calderon. Tickets

Neva is a play written by the Chilean playwright, Guillermo Calderón. The play premiered in 2011 and has been performed worldwide since then. Calderón is known for his provocative and politically charged plays that challenge audiences to question their own beliefs and assumptions.

At its core, Neva is a meditation on the role of the artist in society. Set in St. Petersburg during the winter of 1905, the play follows three actors who are rehearsing for a new production of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard. As they wait for their director, who is detained by the authorities, they discuss their personal lives, the recent massacre of workers, and the meaning of art in a time of political turmoil.

One of the central themes of Neva is the tension between art and politics. The characters debate whether it is more important to use art as a vehicle for social change or to create works that are aesthetically pleasing. They also question the responsibility of artists in times of crisis, asking whether they have a duty to use their platform to speak out against injustice or whether they should prioritize their own creative vision.

Calderón is known for his innovative use of theatrical techniques, and Neva is no exception. The play features elements of physical theater, including dance and mime, as well as a fluid blending of reality and fiction. The line between the actors' real lives and their roles in the play becomes increasingly blurred as the performance progresses.

Despite its setting in turn-of-the-century Russia, Neva speaks to contemporary issues like censorship, political repression, and the role of art in activism. The play has been praised for its thought-provoking exploration of these themes and its inventive use of theatrical language.

Overall, Neva demonstrates Calderón's commitment to creating theater that engages with the world around us. By challenging our assumptions and provoking us to think deeply about complex issues, Calderón invites us to consider our own role in shaping the world we live in and the power of art to effect change.