Acts of Trauma in Six Plays by Antonio Buero Vallejo

“Chávez explores prototypical examples of Buero’s concepts for diminishing aesthetic distance in his plays and offers us new ways of understanding the essence of his objectives and the strategies he employs. . . . For English readers interested in theatre this is a much-needed introduction to the key aspects of this key Spanish dramatist’s work. For Spanish speakers already acquainted with Buero’s theories and plays, Chávez points out new insights into the immersive theatre to which he aspired.” – British Bulletin of Publications on Latin America, the Caribbean, Portugal and Spain

“. . . interesting, original and well-written with a clear focus. It provides a thorough analysis of representative plays through the particular lens of audience participation. The structure of Chavez’s book, with each chapter focused on a specific play, will make this a useful resource for future scholars and for students of Buero’s theater. . . . it will make an exciting addition to English language scholarship on Spanish theatre of the Twentieth Century.” – Mary Rice

Table of contents:
Foreword; Preface; Introduction
1. Audience Participation: Diminishing the Distance
2. En la ardiente oscuridad: Blind Hope
3. La doble historia del doctor Valmy: Tortuous Secrets
4. El sueño de la razón: Silent Monsters
5. La Fundación: The Faces of Trauma
6. Diálago secreto: Traumatic Exchanges
7. Música cercana: Trauma Revisited
Conclusion; Bibliography