MEDIATHEK

“The Enchanted Deer theatre company was founded in Havana in 1996. It was born out of an intense and specific pedagogical experience conducted by actor and director Nelda Castillo in the Cuban Superior Institute of the Arts. Since then this group has carried out a rich body of work, based on deep research processes resulting in the creation of their own language. This is characterized by a strong focus on the actors’ training that allows them access to a particular expressive mode. They have explored the audiovisual universe of staging, and used literary, historical, musical, movement and visual arts sources to search for an artistic, innovative language which questions Cuban reality. Specially meaningful in this regard are their explorations based on the work of authors such as Severo Sarduy, Guillermo Cabrera Infante, Fernando Ortiz, Reinaldo Arenas and Jose Martí, among others. This group is intensely focused on the exploration of the Cuban cultural identity in all it’s richness and complexity. The struggle to capture this elusive deer: the identity of a culture in constant metamorphosis, gives meaning to the life of this peculiar theatrical creature. Since the beginning this group has produced several seasons and toured widely with their productions, receiving applause and accolades from different audiences. They have also received important awards such as La Avellaneda Award for Staging given by the National Council for Scenic Arts, several National Critics Awards given by the Cuban Union of Writers and Artists, and the Grand Prix to the best performance by the International Theatre Festival in Mont Laurier, Quebec. Nelda Castillo and her group create one of the most interesting bodies of work in the Cuban avant-garde theatre. Contact: ciervo@cubarte.cult.cu www.teatrociervo.com