“Days Outside”: Life after Prison | Babelia

The show recently had a brief run at the Madrid Fall Festival. days spent outside, A work by Argentinian creator Lola Arias. Arias, who last year won the Ibsen Prize, which is considered a kind of performing arts Nobel Prize and is given by the Norwegian government, premiered the work in 2016 and has since become a global benchmark for documentary theater. minefield, This resulted in real Argentine and British veterans of the Falklands War facing each other on stage. days spent outside The film also features real-life characters. In this case, it features six people who have experienced women’s prisons in Argentina and are faced with the challenge of rebuilding their lives outside of prison. Among them are women and trans men.

That is the great power of Laura Arias’ documentary theater. His shows put his characters on stage rather than using professional actors to reconstruct the actual story. Thus, a double catharsis occurs. This is experienced not only by the audience, but also by the protagonists. most exciting moment days spent outside That’s just the end. It’s when the lights come on in the room and you see people crying after reliving some of their life’s most difficult experiences in front of strangers. It’s the kind of work that makes you want to jump up and hug it.

However, this communion does not occur during the performance. meanwhile minefield (We saw it in Madrid in 2018) staged the conflict by bringing people who were once enemies in a war face to face in the present. days spent outside It lacks dramatic tension. They are simply six people reminiscing.

Of course, their stories influence and show us realities that we, as wealthy First World viewers, cannot even imagine. For example, when you remember the emotions you felt the day you left prison. Or when you reenact a job interview, you’re always annoyed by your criminal history. Life outside prison is not full of rose petals. “Time passes, but the fear remains,” says one. However, no matter how much it is seasoned with songs and live music, the formula of the story is somehow boring.

The best moments are those that take place in the present moment of the play. For example, when the two main characters are talking about their relationships with their children. That’s where we really connect with them.