A 360º project to become the set designers of a theater play

Designing the costumes, backdrops, props... in short, all the elements involved in the staging of a play. This has been the objective that 41 students of the Degree in Design of the University of Navarra have worked on, and that will be reflected in the play La Zarzuela de los Paraguasproduced by the Museo Universidad de Navarrawhose premiere will take place on April 5 and 6.

The objective has been "to give students a basis for the understanding of scenography as a creative tool in itself and not as a mere tool of "representation" of another's idea. The interesting thing about a scenography is the way in which other programmatic ideas are materialized, enriched and made visible, which are understandable and recognizable by the public thanks to the design choices of the scenographer," explains Juan Roquette, professor at the School of Architecture.

In this way, the students carried out a previous research work, in which they analyzed the text of the play, as well as the different stagings it has had over time. Specifically, "they have analyzed backdrops, costume characterizations and deictics of other authors, to see how the same ideas can be expressed in different ways: either in more abstract/symbolic keys, or in more text-centric or figurative keys," says the teacher. The students also received practical sessions on the stage of the theater at Museo Universidad de Navarra, "where they were able to test and exemplify the virtualities of the set designer's tools: their own body, positions in space, movement, lighting, body and facial expression, perspective, etc.," he adds.

"The focus of our project was based on the concept of water and the deluge as an element that paralyzes the population of an entire country, thus creating a simile with the idea of a flooded city, collapsed between pipes, stagnant water and sewage. To materialize this concept we divided the scenes between the historical or past and the contemporary ones, through a color code: sepia and toasted; and colorful and cold, respectively. This whole idea was linked in coherence with the design of costumes and backdrops, which were carried out using the collage method: with images and photographs from Pamplona and Madrid archives from the time of the play, some references to Ortiz Echagüe and elements from a magazine of the same year 1889", explains student Elena Vela.

An "integrated learning" project

This project is developed with the methodology of "integrated learning", in which students have the opportunity to simultaneously study the subject and apply practical knowledge to a real case. In addition, on this occasion, they have had the tutoring and supervision of Liuba Cid, PhD in Arts and Humanities, member of the Academy of Performing Arts of Spain and creative director of the play. "I believe that the process that the students have followed in this project resignifies the value of creative culture in the studies of the Degree, in particular, applied to the subject, as a tool for teaching innovation," says Cid. "The methodological value is precisely in the research processes that stimulate the development of new technical skills in students, but also creative ones, all within the framework of collaborative work," he adds.

"For me it was a very enriching experience. It opened doors to a new world where I could develop my design and creativity. It was also a great opportunity to begin to develop professionally in the future, giving me the experience of being part of such an important project," says Elena Vela.

La Zarzuela de los Paraguas, which will premiere on April 5 and 6 at Museo Universidad de Navarra, is a recreation of works by Federico Chueca and Joaquín Valverde, under the musical direction of Borja Quintas and stage direction and dramaturgy of Liuba Cid. It involves the students of the activities included in the Artistic Talent program of the University of Navarra: the University of Navarra Symphony Orchestra and the University of Navarra Choir - conducted by Borja Quintas - and the groups of the Theatrical Training Plan, in addition to the students of the Performing Arts Production Program under the direction of Liuba Cid; the students of the Degree in Design of the School of Architecture of the University of Navarra and the Gayarre Association of Friends of the Opera (AGAO).