This great theatre, located in Quito/ Ecuador, is home to the "Malayerba Theater Group" who have been active for roughly thirty years – although they have only recently acquired the theatre as a base for their operations. The Group focuses on issues that people in Ecuador and the surrounding countries face every day and it confronts a variety of social problems that need to be addressed.
The "Malayerba Theatre Group" was founded by three actors who all shared the same goals. They wanted to create a theatre that was completely independent and therefore uninfluenced by political and economical factors that surrounded them. This would give them the advantage of freedom of choice and the ability to truly give voice to the issues that exist around them. Most of the productions are written by Maria del Rosario Francés who is actually from Pamplona but who fled to Ecuador to escape the Franco regime. She draws her inspiration from the people who live around her and her works often cover the problems of oppression, mandatory migration and discrimination. These are things that have a lot of meaning to the people in Ecuador and the Malayerba Theatre Group wants their productions to appeal to people and draw them closer.
Things are not easy for the group since theatre is not as commonly accepted here as it is in northern countries. Each of the members of the group have other jobs by which they sustain themselves since they are unable to make a living from their theatrical performances alone. They were only able to gain their theatre building through the assistance of the "Hivos Cultural Fund" to whom they are deeply grateful. However, they continue to perform in poor neighborhoods, prisons, orphanages and countryside communities to ensure that the relevant issues are addressed and that people everywhere have access to theatre. The Malayerba Theatre is truly a theatre by the people for the people. You will find them at Sodiro 345 & 6 de Diciembre which is right next to the "El Belen Church."
If you are interested in finding more about this very interesting way of expressing yourself and making art, you can also receive classes with the group.
