Federico García Lorca

Lauded as one of the most important poets and playwrights of the 20th Century, Federico Garcia Lorca was also an accomplished theatre director with a clear process and philosophy of how drama should be staged.

Simon Breden is currently Doctor Encargado at the University of Deusto in Bilbao, Spain. His published work focuses on rehearsal practice, contemporary and Golden Age Spanish theatre, and issues of translating for the stage. He is also a published translator and former stage director.

Contents List of figures Acknowledgements A note on translations Prologue 1. LORCA'S LIFE IN THE THEATRE Formative experiences La Barraca Anfistora Mainstream success 2. KEY WRITINGS AND IDEAS A Talk About Theatre The modern director Lorca's ideas on theatre Social commitment and theatre Rhythm and harmony Imagination and inspiration Multidisciplinarity Prologues, Dragón El público, Comedia sin título 3. KEY PRODUCTIONS Fuente Ovejuna Lorca and the Spanish Golden Age Rehearsing Fuente Ovejuna Casting Co-directing: Ugarte and Maortua de Ucelay Rehearsals and actor training Working on verse Co-directing: Rivas Cherif Acting work 4. PRACTICAL EXERCISES: LORCA AND RIVAS CHERIF Observations of Lorca's rehearsals Casting The rehearsal period Verse work Breathing Verse form Punctuation and thought Annotating the text Improvisation Character work Conclusion Bibliography Index