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María Velasco, a director, is bringing her new theatrical hybrid, Mantener fuera del alcance de los niños, to the Sala Juan de la Cruz at Teatro de La Abadía, running from October 29 through November 22, according to announcements from Teatro de La Abadía and Tercera Información. Velasco, who won the 2024 National Prize for Dramatic Literature, takes the stage for the first time at this theater to examine the trauma of non-normative childhoods and special education classrooms through text, live music, and contemporary dance.
The production marks Velasco’s debut performance at Teatro de La Abadía, which is co-producing the work alongside Pecado de Hybris, the production company run by Velasco and Ana Carrera. Velasco previously incorporated live music and performance into works like Amadora with Miren Iza of Tulsa and Vendrán los alienígenas y tendrán tus ojos with Carlos Beluga. For this project, she shares the stage with flamenco singer Al-Blanco and performer Mario Patrón, blending confessional theater with fantastic elements and a performative conference style.
Exploring the Trauma of School Exclusion and the Tyranny of Norms
According to production details from Teatro de La Abadía, Mantener fuera del alcance de los niños examines the torments of not belonging, peer exclusion, and the psychological weight of trying to fit in during the 1990s. Velasco draws inspiration from horror authors like Mariana Enríquez and Stephen King’s Carrie, reframing a classic prom revenge fantasy into an alumni anniversary dinner setting. The narrative uses this dark fantasy to address the privileges of social norms, meritocracy, anxiety-driven attachment, and the lasting impacts of childhood bullying and special education segregation.
Collaborative Performance and Creative Team
The staging pairs the grievances of non-normative childhoods with the raw expression of flamenco song, or quejío. Performer Mario Patrón and cantaor Al-Blanco join Velasco to examine how early roles as victims, bullies, or silent accomplices shape adult behavior. The work investigates the transformative power of fantasy in rewriting personal trauma.
Velasco holds a doctorate in Audiovisual Communication from the Complutense University of Madrid and a master’s from the Reina Sofía Museum and the University of Alcalá. Her previous dramatic works have earned honors including the SGAE Jardiel Poncela Prize, the International Heidelberger Stückemarkt Prize, the Max Award for Best Playwriting, and the Godot Award for Best Playwriting, alongside the 2024 National Prize for Dramatic Literature for Primera sangre.
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