Circuito Cultural Barracas

Barracas Theatre Group

In it’s very beginning at their previous and first premises at California Street ,the Circuito Cultural Barracas started with Drama Workshops that latter developed into a theatre group. Gatherings with neighbours were then held , parties with actings nd mini-shows took place at the Paseo Bardi (Osvaldo cruz 2300 next to the Hipolito Yrigoyen Railway Station )
These gatherings held at Paseo Bardi cropped up by the neighbour’s need of getting together specially on Sunday afternoons. Then they gave way to more organized parties once a month on the first Sunday of each month. For these events we had the support of the Ateneo Cultural Barracas and artists from different fields (musicians, puppeteers, circus people,etc.) where of course, our theatre presentationes, murga and clowns were present.There was always a very good atmosphere around these gatherings and snacks and “mate” were part of the afternoon too.In this way we gave our first steps in this artistic –communitary task.
During 1998, the Theatre group started working on what latter was known as “Los Chicos del Cordel”. (“Kids on the tightrope”)

“Los Chicos del Cordel”  Kids on th tightrope

There came up a notion of the neighbourhood as the place where memories were kept, but also a fractured dwelling that couldn’t cater for the needs of its people.  The children were strongly  seen as the ones out of place, excluded. The were not  takeninto account . They were like outcasts in their own neighbourhood claiming for a place, a bridge , a cultural bridge . Where were the teachers that were around at other moments? Where has the neighbourhood gone… it’s no more around…it use to be the place… and now?

This street show started in July 1999. 16.000 people attended the 48 presentations.

“Los cortocircuitos”

A party, as a popular event , holds in itself : laughing and crying; life and death. It holds them all as a whole.

It starts from  grouping together and shows a particular view of life.

That’s the way in which “El Casamiento de Anita y Mirko” cropped up.