La violencia en Colombia como punto de partida para la creación teatral, basado en el montaje La boda rosa de rosas rojas, escrito y dirigido por Hugo Heliodoro Afanador

Abstract

The document examines how Colombia’s violent history particularly the assassination of Jorge Eliécer Gaitán and the events of April 9, 1948 (El Bogotazo) has deeply influenced national theater. The author argues that such events, along with decades of social and political conflict, provide rich material for theatrical creation. Violence, understood not only as a historical phenomenon but also as a constant social experience, becomes a powerful source of inspiration for playwrights seeking to denounce, portray, and reflect on the country’s reality. Works such as La Boda Rosa de Rosa Rojas by Hugo Afanador, which tells the story of a wedding interrupted by Gaitán’s assassination, exemplify this approach. The text also questions Colombia’s cultural dependence on foreign theatrical models.

In the second part of the study, Artunduaga explores the evolution of Colombian dramaturgy, highlighting the contributions of writers like Luis Enrique Osorio and Enrique Buenaventura, as well as influential theater groups such as La Candelaria, Teatro Libre, and Teatro Experimental de Cali. These artists and collectives have used violence as a central theme to develop socially committed theater that not only documents but also seeks to awaken social consciousness. The author emphasizes the importance of creating theatrical works that build historical memory to prevent the erasure of national tragedies. Ultimately, the document asserts that Colombian theater, shaped by its painful history, must reclaim its cultural identity and serve as a vehicle for reflection, protest, and potential societal transformation.