The XLI Bajo Deba School Theater Festival hosts today, Tuesday, the performance of Etxerik txikiena, -The Smallest House-, a play by the Yarleku Teatro company aimed at audiences aged six and above. The production delves into the drama and uncertainties experienced by refugee children when forced to leave their homes without knowing their destination.
This staging, true to Yarleku's trajectory, combines a plastic vision of theater with the transmission of social and educational values. On this occasion, the company presents a story marked by war, fear, and displacement, but also by friendship and the ability to find emotional refuge amidst vulnerability.
The protagonist of the play is Bettina, a girl who leaves her home behind with a suitcase, a small apple tree, and the desire to return soon. Her departure is motivated by the need to escape the noise of bombs and the fear caused by war. However, upon arriving at her new destination, she discovers that nothing is as she had imagined. Along this journey, Norma appears, another girl in a similar situation who becomes her companion in a difficult story.
“"The play Etxerik txikiena addresses displacement from a perspective close to child audiences, without sacrificing the depth of the theme. The show poses a central question: if a home is the place where a person lives with a sense of security and calm, what is its minimum unit? The answer suggested by the piece refers to the power of affections: perhaps a hug can be the smallest house."
The relationship between the two allows for the construction of a bond of mutual support in the face of emerging difficulties, positioning friendship as a form of resistance against loss, uncertainty, and lack of security. Etxerik txikiena is directed by Rosa Díaz and based on texts by Maialen Díaz. The performance is carried out by Laura Villanueva and Eva Azpilikueta, the latter awarded the FETEN Award 2019 for best female interpretation for her role in this play.
Yarleku Teatro was founded by members from the Oreka Circus School, with the aim of creating socio-educational shows that combine visual language, scenic expression, and reflection on values. Throughout its fifteen-year history, the company has staged productions such as Numenes, Merkao, Maldito Sapo, Marem, La Isla de Yul, and Taim y los músicos de Bremen. Their presence at the Bajo Deba School Theater Festival reinforces the educational nature of a program aimed at bringing performing arts closer to child and youth audiences.
