The 15M movement, also known as the Indignados Movement, emerged in May 2011 and marked a significant shift in Spanish politics and society. It was the first major protest against austerity measures following the 2008 financial crisis and deeply transformed Spain's political, social and cultural landscape.
During this period, Spanish theater and cinema produced a variety of adaptations of Henrik Ibsen’s works. These productions highlighted the political themes of his plays, recontextualized female characters within a growing feminist context, and addressed contemporary issues such as environmentalism and the erosion of freedoms. In theater, performances reflected the social realities of the time, featuring rewritings of Ibsen’s plays that connected with current issues and encouraged a more critical and engaged audience through approaches like relational theater, documentary theater, and dance theater. At the same time, cinema also adapted Ibsen’s works, ranging from the experimental Fragments of Brand (2012) to the commercial political thriller Unbridled (2018), which adapts A Doll's House.
These adaptations reflect a renewed interest in Ibsen's work in Spain, along with increased experimentation with his texts. This presentation aims to analyze recent adaptations of Ibsen’s plays in Spain, emphasizing their formal characteristics and their connection to the social and political issues that have defined the past decade.
Irene Pérez Puyol is a PhD student at the Complutense University of Madrid. In her doctoral thesis she examines the reception of Henrik Ibsen's work in Spain in film and theater between 2011 and 2020. She is part of the research group LEETHI (European and Spanish Literatures from Texts to Hypermedia) and the international network ReOTI (Rethinking the order of time). Her research interests include the reception of Norwegian literature in Spain, cultural recycling, adaptation, and the relationships between film and theater.In addition, she has worked as a playwright and scriptwriter in several productions in Spain.
The seminar is free and open for all. No registration is need for on-campus participation. Please note that live streaming will be provided, but in this case, registration is mandatory. Please register at this link on Wednesday 18 September at the latest. A Zoom link will be sent to registered participants on the day of the seminar.