Frida Kahlo Viva la Vida! - Oval House Theatre
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
FOOTPRINT Project and Tirso Theatre Company are presenting the London premiere of Humberto Robles’ Frida Kahlo Viva la Vida! at the Oval House Theatre – from October 20 to November 7, 2009.
Frida Kahlo Viva la Vida! is described as an explosive on-stage portrait of Latin America’s greatest female painter, Frida Kahlo.
It is ‘The Day of the Dead’ in Mexico and Frida comes back to her house to make fun of death and celebrate life. She reminisces about her turbulent relationship with painter and companion Diego Rivera, her disagreements with Andre Breton and the Surrealists, her affair with Trotsky, and other episodes from an extraordinary life, full of art, passion and obsession.
Based on fragments of her biography, letters, extracts from her diary and interviews with Frida and her closest friends, Frida Kahlo Viva La Vida! recreates the intimate life of a passionate woman, who despite her disability and destructive marriage, managed to transfer her colourful vibrant culture and her deepest dramas onto canvas, creating some of the most unforgettable images of 20th century modern art.
Luis Benkard directs Gaël le Cornec, who was cited by The Stage as “one of the rising stars to keep your eye on this year.” The production is designed by Sophie Mosberger.
Tickets: £12, £6 concessions, preview (Tuesday, October 20) all tickets £6.
Time: Tuesday to Saturday at 8pm.
Running time: 65 minutes.
Special Post-Show Events (included in ticket price):
Thursday, October 22: free post-show discussion with the playwright Humberto Robles, who will be visiting London from Mexico especially for this event.
Friday October 23: Mariachi Songs in the Time of Frida – live music and refreshments in the Oval House Theatre’s café/bar after the show, Mexican style!
Tuesday, October 27: The Life of Frida Kahlo – a free post-show talk by Dr Luis Rebaza-Soraluz, a senior lecturer in Latin American cultural studies.
For more information call the box office on 020 7582 7680 or visit the Website