Discovering Fire

[The axis of the project The Gospel - ¡Live! are theatre workshops. Thousands of young people have participated in these workshops given by teatro la fragua and continue to dramatize the Gospels in their communities in Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. One community which recently joined the project was the town of La Reina in Chalatenango (El Salvador). At present, 56 young people in La Reina -boys and girls- are presenting theatrical pieces in their community, and have organized short tours to neighboring communities. The testimonies that follow flow from that experience. They express, in a very simple and at times rudimentary form, the transforming force of theatre as an instrument for change and human growth; theatre's festive capacity to give voice and body to the joys and hopes of a community.]

Nito: It began back in the last century, in nineteen-something-or-other.... When one of the guys started to bring new people to the parish. One of those new guys was Eberto, a young Honduran from El Progreso who is studying communications in the Jesuit university in San Salvador. The far-out idea he brought with him is a good one and it's having a real effect: I'm talking about the theatre group that I belong to.

Eberto: Dear amigos de la fragua: When you left, there remained in me the nostalgia for my pueblo: El Progreso. Every time I get together with people from home, I remember all that I have lived in those sweltering lands. Thank you for doing so well what you know how to do -- THEATRE.

José Mauricio: I had no idea what theatre was; I had never seen a play. Two meetings went by and I wanted to join the group but I was chicken. But luck was on my side; a friend invited me and encouraged me to go. I was real nervous in that first meeting, but I began to like it. So I said to myself "I've been really stupid to be missing this."

Marina: I showed up out of curiosity -"to see what was up"- because I was sure it wasn't going to go anywhere. I was planning on making a scene -as always- but when they said we should get up and read some tongue-twisters during a diction exercise, I got up and I couldn't do it, I was so self-conscious about speaking in public. But somebody said my voice was strong enough, and that motivated me to go on.

Nito: At first it was easy: physical exercises, breathing, tongue-twisters. The hard part started when we had to get to work on two different pieces at the same time, one for a celebration of the family and the other for Christmas.

José Mauricio: The trial by fire came when they gave me one of the principal roles in a piece about family relations. At first I couldn't do it but after a lot of rehearsal I managed it. Now I feel that as we continue rehearsing and doing shows I'm getting better and growing as an actor.

Nito: One day Eberto brought in the actors of la fragua, in Honduras, to help us stage Navidad Nuestra.

Maritza: I was really nervous, but thanks to the orientation I got from Edy Barahona, artistic director of la fragua, I managed to get over my nerves and I realized that I'm capable of achieving something I decide to do.

Nito: The fragüeños tried to get us to sing, and instead of singing we cried. Then we discovered that we couldn't read, and finally they got us to act. Edy left balder than when he arrived, but as the saying goes, even a blind donkey finds the well sometimes; it was rough, maybe, but the play began to take shape.

Eberto: I can't find the words to express my appreciation for your coming and creating a smile on the faces of so many children and youngsters, and for giving them the security that lets them believe in themselves. I was just as happy as they were to have you here, and I would have begged the same thing they did: that you not leave. And so I'm asking you to come back soon, so they don't lose their dreams and the sweet taste you left in our mouths.

Rosa María: As time went on I realized that I had to work a lot to become a good actress. It's not easy to be part of a theatre group, especially when you don't know anything about what you are doing. Sometimes the rehearsals get to be a drag because of the concentration and the discipline they demand, but with these few months of experience I feel like I am continuing to improve. I like the physical exercises that keep us active, the breathing exercises that help us relax, and the theatre exercises that help us improve our bodily expression.

Nito: The moment arrived to put our work before an audience, during the Sunday Mass. Personally I felt nervous and a bit scared, but I was sure of what I had to do and that helped me a lot to control my nerves. We did it and when all was said and done it came off well.

Eberto: You left behind the hope that we can work towards a better world, that we can achieve great things if we work at it meticulously.

Carina: We learned a lot from the la fragua workshop, and that gave us the chance to do various shows outside the parish.

Lupe: Once in a show I forgot my lines.... Then I remembered that the way to calm down is to breathe; I did it and I went on acting. It was an experience that has helped me a lot to get better every day.

Nito: I feel at home in the group. The experience of the theatre has helped me a lot. I've been through a lot, but nothing has been like the theatre group. I really enjoy rehearsals; especially when we have to repeat scenes various times. That's how I discover my capacity to make it a little better each time. I realize that I'll always be nervous, even if I do shows every day; but I've learned to control my nerves so that in the end everything comes out right.

Toño: One of the things I have enjoyed most have been the tours to other places outside our parish. I like them a lot. I've learned a lot in this time: to act in front of an audience, to get along better with my compañeros and to get over my shyness; better control of my body thanks to the sessions of physical exercises, and a lot more self-confidence.

Luis Alfonso: Thanks to the collective efforts of everybody we've achieved a lot, such as getting up two shows in our two months of existence. And we have learned to share our ideas and to work together.

Marina: That's why I say now that whatever it might take I'm not going to leave the theatre group.

Eberto: I hope to see you soon and I hope that you continue to persevere in what you want to do... that is where life's satisfaction comes from. Enormous hugs to all.

José Mauricio: I'm not bashful any more about getting up to read at Mass, nor of speaking in public: I believe this caveman has discovered fire.