In 2016 a great deal of activities have been carried out
celebrating the fourth century of Miguel Cervantes´ death.
José Romera Castillo, Spanish Literature professor at UNED
makes us a brief summary of those activities performed in Madrid
There are a set of congresses,
exhibitions at the National Library, for instance, really great
seminars about Cervantes, and so on.
At the theatre hall, which is one of Cervantes´ activities
also, especially public theatres
have devoted part of their programmes to cultivate
what Cervantes drama work has to offer us at present.
For instance, the National Classic Drama Company
under the authority of the Ministry
has scheduled a performance called “Cervantina” by Ron Lalá
which is a collection of texts from different plays of Cervantes
in which in a humorous, musical mood,
key points of liberation,
cult to freedom, that Cervantes established, are raised.
On the other hand,
theatres under the authority of Madrid government
in this case, Canal´s playhouses
have arrange some performances
that were already staged
like “Entremeses”, directed by José Luis Gómez,
and that have been revitalized, revived, in this experience.
Also, “Numancia” by Cervantes,
An epic work that on purpose comes to...
not to make sense of the rebellion against Romans
by Numacia´s inhabitants,
but also, it is the sense of Spain´s unity
that, moreover, at the present time politically
is being somewhat called into question as the audience knows.
In other words, there are a variety of activities, that using
either Cervantes´ work or adaptations of Cervantes
“Don Quixote”, for example,
makes us being…what makes Cervantes´ work to be revived
and gets diffusion currently,
and that drama should help us to reflect on
to look ourselves in it like in a mirror
to become better individuals and better citizens.