Miguel Rellán Stars in "El maestro Juan Martínez" at CajaCanarias
Miguel Rellán stars in El maestro Juan Martínez que estaba allí, a play based on Manuel Chaves Nogales' novel about a dancer's survival during World War I, showing at the CajaCanarias Cultural Space in Tenerife this weekend.
The CajaCanarias Foundation is keeping its 2025 Cultural Autumn program going this week with two shows of the play El maestro Juan Martínez que estaba allí (Teacher Juan Martínez Who Was There), starring Miguel Rellán.
You can catch the performances tonight, Friday, and tomorrow, Saturday, at 8:00 p.m. at the CajaCanarias Cultural Space in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Tickets start at 10 euros and are available on the website www.cajacanarias.com.
El maestro Juan Martínez que estaba allí is based on the famous novel by journalist and writer Manuel Chaves Nogales. It's a story in the classic Spanish style, reminiscent of Lazarillo and the works of Cervantes and Quevedo. It offers a fascinating look at history and how ordinary people survive when caught up in the events caused by those in power.
The play is a perfect showcase for Miguel Rellán, allowing him to display a previously unseen aspect of his talent.
El maestro Juan Martínez que estaba allí tells the story of a dancer and entertainer, Juan Martínez, and his partner Sole. Just before World War I breaks out in 1914, they begin an extraordinary journey of life and work.
The play is set against the backdrop of cities like Istanbul, Bucharest, St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Kiev, where some of the most dramatic events of the First World War take place. The protagonists try to survive in the cabarets, casinos, and boarding houses of these cities.
El maestro Juan Martínez que estaba allí, which runs for 70 minutes, is a powerful lesson in courage, the will to survive, and accepting the overwhelming and chaotic forces of history that can crush the lives of ordinary people.
Through the adventures of a flamenco dancer, this play, adapted from the novel, tells one of the most important and tragic stories of the last century, reflecting the Spanish tragedy in some ways.