Silvia Albert Sopale was born in San Sebastian and she is about 45 years old, so if you are more or less of the same age, you might recognise the songs and music from the adverts played during the performance. She takes a look at the imagery of her generation, while covering the last forty years of this country’s history, but from a different perspective to yours. What is life like for someone with black skin, living surrounded by white people? How do you feel if you are not recognised as someone “from here” because of the colour of your skin, but when you go to Africa you realise you don’t belong there either? The protagonist’s childhood and adolescence are the highlights of a performance that humorously and ironically analyses subjects that range from racism to the sexuality of black women, and touches on identity. Unless you have seen this show, which has been on tour since 2016, it’s certain that no one has ever explained... the story of black Spanish women. Yes, this one-woman show is a comedy, but there are also moments that will freeze the smile on your face.
The show was created by Silvia Albert Sopale, a graduate of the Higher School of Dramatic Art in Murcia and a Gestalt therapist. She has been on the stage since 1999 and, in addition to No es país para negras, she has also created shows such as Blackface y otras vergüenzas [Blackface and other disgraces] (2019) and Parar de pararme [Stop stopping me](2021), the latter being a commission from SOS Racisme, all included in the repertoire of the No Es País Para Negras Company. She has worked in Hotspot (winner of an Iberescena grant, premiered and co-produced by the Teatro Julio Mario Santo Domingo de Bogotá), in Grrrls, directed by Carlota Subiros, and also with Carla Rovira in L’amansi(pa)ment de les fúries, by the Parking Shakespeare Company. La catedral del mar (Antena 3), Panteras (directed by Erika Sánchez Marcos), Daucus Carota (directed by Carla Linares), Umbered i O no será (directed by Sally Fenaux Barleycorn), are just some of the audiovisual projects she has taken part in
She wrote this show in collaboration with other artists: the Colombian director, independent artist and performer Carolina Torres Topaga, with an MA in Theatre Studies from the Barcelona Theatre Institute and the Pompeu Fabra University and the author of the show Mi parce; and Laura Freijo Justo, the Barcelona author and story-telling addict, who for many years has been part of Project VACA (dramaturgy) and has produced and premiered over twenty dramatic creations.
The show is part of a series of productions from Sala Periferia, a theatre venue dedicated to the creations of Afro-descendants which will be opening in the city in the coming year. It will make its debut in society by recovering pioneering shows by African and Afro-descendant artists.
A No Es País Para Negras production.
On Tuesday, 20 July, the show will be followed by a discussion as part of the Debat Grec series: “Creation, Colonialism and Racism”.
Performed by: Silvia Albert Sopale Director: Carolina Torres Topaga Text: Silvia Albert Sopale, with the collaboration of Carolina Torres Topaga and Laura Freijo Justo Movement: Chechu García Staging: Carolina Torres Topaga Sound: Silvia M. Aranda Lighting: Alberto Barberá Costumes: Eugenia Gusmerini Company technician: Rául Beldarrain Photography: Toni Payán, Joan Linuxbcn, Josep Tobella
