A Play About Surrealist Maud Bonneaud-Westerdahl to Be Staged in the Canary Islands
The play "Maud," dedicated to the surrealist artist Maud Bonneau-Westerdahl, the final part of the "Atlantic Trilogy" about prominent cultural figures of the Canary Islands, will premiere in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
On September 13, the Cultural Center La Caja de Canarias CICCA (located at Alameda de Colón, 1, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) will host the premiere of the play "Maud." This is the final part of the "Atlantic Trilogy," a series of plays about prominent cultural figures of the Canary Islands, created by the CajaCanarias Foundation and the ”la Caixa” Foundation.
Earlier, there were the plays "Someday There Will Be an Island" and "Toasts to Domingo Pérez Minik." Now, they will tell the story of Maud Bonneau-Westerdahl, an important artist in the history of modern Spanish art and a prominent representative of surrealism in the islands. The play starts at 8:30 PM. Tickets from 12 euros can be purchased on the TomaTicket website.
"Maud" is a joint project of the two foundations. The play aims to restore justice to Maud's work, as she is often mentioned only in connection with the names of Eduardo Westerdahl, Oscar Domínguez, or André Breton. The play will show that she was the founder of the first museum of modern art in Spain, the initiator of the first association of female artists in the Canary Islands, and a driving force behind avant-garde art in the islands.
The text was written by Quique and Yeray Bazo, well-known contemporary playwrights. The director is Juan José Afonso, who has extensive experience in large-scale productions both in the Canary Islands and throughout Spain. Ángeles Alemán Gómez, the author of the essay "Maud Bonneau-Westerdahl. A Surrealist Creator," who advised the team on documentary facts, also contributed to the creation of the play.
The play will show three stages of Maud's life. She will be played by Melanie Gabarre, Nur Jojo, and Inma Luna. They will also embody historical figures such as Picasso, Breton, Valentine Penrose, and María Belén Morales. It will be a fluid play-choir.
The action will take place in Poitiers, Paris (during the occupation), Tenerife, and in the last years of the artist's life. The episodes are combined in a non-linear structure. The play will use symbolic elements inspired by Maud's work. The set design is by Carmen Castañón, the lighting is by Dimas Cedrés, and the costumes are by Juan Carlos Martín. All of this will create an atmosphere reminiscent of Maud's work and the spirit of surrealism.
The team includes professionals with extensive experience in Spain. The producer is Iraya Archipiélago, the executive producer is Maxi Martínez, and the production manager is Carlos Prieto. The team also includes Bárbara Espejo (assistant director) and Jesús Raya (technical director).
"Maud" completes a large cultural project initiated by the CajaCanarias Foundation and the ”la Caixa” Foundation. The aim of the project is to tell the story of prominent intellectuals and artists of the archipelago. The premiere at CICCA is a great opportunity to get acquainted with Maud Bonneau from a modern and documented point of view, and to learn about her contribution to the art of the Canary Islands.