Osvaldo Dragún
Encyclopedia
Osvaldo Dragún was a prominent Argentine playwright and theatre director.
, Argentina
. After his father's linseed farm suffered from recurrent locust
problems, the family left the settlement for Buenos Aires. Dragún left his university studies in 1953 to pursue his calling in the theatre. Joining the Fray Mocho
Theatre in 1956, he premiered his first work, La peste viene de Melos (The Plague from Melos). The politically-charged play, on the 1954 coup d'état
against Guatemala
n President Jacobo Árbenz, drew also from the playwright's own childhood memories of his father's struggles with locusts.
He continued to write controversial works for the Fray Mocho, including Historias para ser contadas (Stories Yet to be Told), Tupac Amaru
and Milagro en el mercado viejo (Miracle at the Old Market), for which he received the Casa de las Américas Prize in 1962. His 1966 play, Heroica de Buenos Aires received the same distinction. That June, however, one of Argentine independent theatre's most powerful opponents, General Juan Carlos Onganía
, took power in a quiet coup. Dragún's stays abroad, which had begun in 1961, became more frequent, directing plays in several other Latin America
n countries and in the United States
. He continued to write politically-themed plays, however, notably Historias con cárcel (Stories and Jail). He helped establish the Campana
Comedy Theatre in 1969 and, six years later, premiered El Jardín del Infierno ("The Garden of Hell") there.
By then, independent Argentine theatre was limited not only by the boom in commercial theatre productions; but also by a climate of repression
. Threats to artistic freedom during the country's last dictatorship
were eased somewhat in 1980 with the support of the relatively moderate Army
Chief, General Roberto Viola. Dragún then premiered his ¿Y por casa cómo andamos? (How're We Doing at Home?), a commentary on unhappy, paternalistic households and their effects on culture. The slowly improving climate of freedoms also led Dragún to form a partnership with fellow playwrights Carlos Gorostiza
and Roberto Cossa
, as well as with numerous actors, to form an "Argentine Open Theatre
," by which they hoped to encourage a return of the freedom of expression whose absence had led so many other cultural figures to leave Argentina since 1975. Converting a shuttered spark plug factory in the Balvanera
district of Buenos Aires to the "Picadero Theatre," they premiered a festival of their collective new works (including Dragún's Mi obelisco y yo - "My Obelisk
and Me") to acclaim on July 28, 1981. This success was marred by the theatre's fire bombing a week later, still an "unsolved mystery."
The setback did not shutter the Open Theatre, however, which reopened in Corrientes Avenue
's famed Tabaris Theatre (well-known locally for its revue
). The Open Theatre's 1982 season, whose slogan was "winning back the streets," featured Dragún's Al violador (To the Rapist). The play was one in a trilogy that included Al perdedor (To the loser) - a semi-biographical look at ill-fated boxer José María Gatica
- and Al vencedor (To the Victor). Following the Open Theatre's final season, in 1985, he wrote Arriba, corazón (Take Heart). The 1987 play was a success, and in 1988 Dragún established the Theatre School of Latin America and the Caribbean in Havana
(where he lived for a time), and reopened the Popular Theatre in Buenos Aires, in 1989.
Dragún relocated to Mexico City
; but returned in 1996 to accept the prestigious post of Director of the Cervantes National Theatre
. He helped revive the struggling Cervantes by organizing "theatre marathons" and the Ibero-American Theatre Encounters, which highlighted troupes from the Argentine hinterland and from other countries in the region, respectively. The director of the Cervantes was enjoying a night out with his wife at the Gran Splendid Cinema (today the El Ateneo
Bookstore) on June 14, 1999, when he lost his life to heart failure at age 70.
The outspoken Osvaldo Dragún was often out of favor among his colleagues, about which he once said:
Life and work
Osvaldo Dragún was born in Colonia Berro, a Jewish agricultural settlement in Entre Ríos ProvinceEntre Ríos Province
Entre Ríos is a northeastern province of Argentina, located in the Mesopotamia region. It borders the provinces of Buenos Aires , Corrientes and Santa Fe , and Uruguay in the east....
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. After his father's linseed farm suffered from recurrent locust
Locust
Locusts are the swarming phase of short-horned grasshoppers of the family Acrididae. These are species that can breed rapidly under suitable conditions and subsequently become gregarious and migratory...
problems, the family left the settlement for Buenos Aires. Dragún left his university studies in 1953 to pursue his calling in the theatre. Joining the Fray Mocho
Fray mocho
Fray Mocho was the pen name for the Argentine writer and journalist José Ciriaco Alvarez . He was born in the remote village of Gualeguaychú in the Entre Ríos Province of Argentina on August 26, 1858. He came to Buenos Aires first in 1876 and then again in 1879 at the age of 21...
Theatre in 1956, he premiered his first work, La peste viene de Melos (The Plague from Melos). The politically-charged play, on the 1954 coup d'état
Operation PBSUCCESS
The 1954 Guatemalan coup d'état was a covert operation organized by the United States Central Intelligence Agency to overthrow Jacobo Árbenz Guzmán, the democratically-elected President of Guatemala....
against Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n President Jacobo Árbenz, drew also from the playwright's own childhood memories of his father's struggles with locusts.
He continued to write controversial works for the Fray Mocho, including Historias para ser contadas (Stories Yet to be Told), Tupac Amaru
Túpac Amaru
Túpac Amaru, also called Thupa Amaro , was the last indigenous leader of the Inca state in Peru.-Accession:...
and Milagro en el mercado viejo (Miracle at the Old Market), for which he received the Casa de las Américas Prize in 1962. His 1966 play, Heroica de Buenos Aires received the same distinction. That June, however, one of Argentine independent theatre's most powerful opponents, General Juan Carlos Onganía
Juan Carlos Onganía
Juan Carlos Onganía Carballo was de facto president of Argentina from 29 June 1966 to 8 June 1970. He rose to power as military dictator after toppling, in a coup d’état self-named Revolución Argentina , the democratically elected president Arturo Illia .-Economic and social...
, took power in a quiet coup. Dragún's stays abroad, which had begun in 1961, became more frequent, directing plays in several other Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n countries and in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He continued to write politically-themed plays, however, notably Historias con cárcel (Stories and Jail). He helped establish the Campana
Campana, Buenos Aires
Campana is a city in the Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, in the Campana Partido. It is located about from Buenos Aires City, on the right-hand margin of the Paraná River, Its population is 84,000 inhabitants as per the ....
Comedy Theatre in 1969 and, six years later, premiered El Jardín del Infierno ("The Garden of Hell") there.
By then, independent Argentine theatre was limited not only by the boom in commercial theatre productions; but also by a climate of repression
Dirty War
The Dirty War was a period of state-sponsored violence in Argentina from 1976 until 1983. Victims of the violence included several thousand left-wing activists, including trade unionists, students, journalists, Marxists, Peronist guerrillas and alleged sympathizers, either proved or suspected...
. Threats to artistic freedom during the country's last dictatorship
National Reorganization Process
The National Reorganization Process was the name used by its leaders for the military government that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983. In Argentina it is often known simply as la última junta militar or la última dictadura , because several of them existed throughout its history.The Argentine...
were eased somewhat in 1980 with the support of the relatively moderate Army
Argentine Army
The Argentine Army is the land armed force branch of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic and the senior military service of the country.- History :...
Chief, General Roberto Viola. Dragún then premiered his ¿Y por casa cómo andamos? (How're We Doing at Home?), a commentary on unhappy, paternalistic households and their effects on culture. The slowly improving climate of freedoms also led Dragún to form a partnership with fellow playwrights Carlos Gorostiza
Carlos Gorostiza
Carlos Gorostiza is a prominent Argentine playwright, theatre director and novelist.-Life and work:Carlos Gorostiza was born to Basque Argentine parents in the upscale Buenos Aires borough of Palermo...
and Roberto Cossa
Roberto Cossa
Roberto Cossa is a prominent Argentine playwright and theatre director.-Life and work:Roberto Cossa was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and raised in the quiet residential borough of Villa del Parque. He first performed in theatre at the age of 17 and, in 1957, he and friends founded the San...
, as well as with numerous actors, to form an "Argentine Open Theatre
Argentine Open Theatre
The Argentine Open Theatre was an independent theatre company in Buenos Aires, Argentina.-Origins:The theatre in Argentina had developed alongside the nation's emergence as a modern economy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
," by which they hoped to encourage a return of the freedom of expression whose absence had led so many other cultural figures to leave Argentina since 1975. Converting a shuttered spark plug factory in the Balvanera
Balvanera
Balvanera is a neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina.-Origin of Name and Alternative Names:The official name, Balvanera, is the name of the parroquia centered around the church of Nuestra Señora de Balvanera, erected in 1831.The zone around Corrientes avenue is known as Once after Plaza Once de...
district of Buenos Aires to the "Picadero Theatre," they premiered a festival of their collective new works (including Dragún's Mi obelisco y yo - "My Obelisk
Obelisk of Buenos Aires
The Obelisk of Buenos Aires is a national historic monument and icon of Buenos Aires. Located in the Plaza de la República, in the intersection of avenues Corrientes and 9 de Julio, it was built to commemorate the fourth centenary of the first foundation of the city.In order to enrich the...
and Me") to acclaim on July 28, 1981. This success was marred by the theatre's fire bombing a week later, still an "unsolved mystery."
The setback did not shutter the Open Theatre, however, which reopened in Corrientes Avenue
Corrientes Avenue
Avenida Corrientes is one of the principal thoroughfares of the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires. The street is intimately tied to the tango and the porteño sense of identity...
's famed Tabaris Theatre (well-known locally for its revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
). The Open Theatre's 1982 season, whose slogan was "winning back the streets," featured Dragún's Al violador (To the Rapist). The play was one in a trilogy that included Al perdedor (To the loser) - a semi-biographical look at ill-fated boxer José María Gatica
José María Gatica
José María Gatica was an Argentine boxer, one of Argentina's most famous sports idols. However, his boxing career was surrounded in controversy due to his support of Argentine President Juan Peron...
- and Al vencedor (To the Victor). Following the Open Theatre's final season, in 1985, he wrote Arriba, corazón (Take Heart). The 1987 play was a success, and in 1988 Dragún established the Theatre School of Latin America and the Caribbean in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
(where he lived for a time), and reopened the Popular Theatre in Buenos Aires, in 1989.
Dragún relocated to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
; but returned in 1996 to accept the prestigious post of Director of the Cervantes National Theatre
Cervantes Theatre (Buenos Aires)
The Cervantes National Theatre in Buenos Aires is the national stage and comedy theatre of Argentina.-History:The Cervantes Theatre of Buenos Aires owes its existence, in part, to the 1897 relocation to Argentina of Spanish theatre producer María Guerrero and her company, who popularized...
. He helped revive the struggling Cervantes by organizing "theatre marathons" and the Ibero-American Theatre Encounters, which highlighted troupes from the Argentine hinterland and from other countries in the region, respectively. The director of the Cervantes was enjoying a night out with his wife at the Gran Splendid Cinema (today the El Ateneo
El Ateneo
El Ateneo Grand Splendid is one of the best known bookshops in Buenos Aires, Argentina. -Overview:Situated at 1860 Santa Fe Avenue in Barrio Norte, the building was designed by the architects Peró and Torres Armengol for the empresario Max Glucksman , and opened as a theatre named Teatro Gran...
Bookstore) on June 14, 1999, when he lost his life to heart failure at age 70.
The outspoken Osvaldo Dragún was often out of favor among his colleagues, about which he once said:
I've always lived on islands. Cuba is an island, and the Fray Mocho Theatre was, too. My hope is that one day, these islands will be the continent of creativity and magic.