This month we will be reading

The House of Bernarda Alba by Federico Garcia Lorca 

“There are eight years of mourning ahead of us. While it lasts not even the wind will get into this house.” 

The House of Bernarda Alba is a masterpiece by the renowned Spanish playwright Federico García Lorca, delving into the depths of desire and oppression through an intense and emotionally charged story. The play unfolds in Southern Spain, within a traditional, rural setting where a widowed mother dictates the rules of her household with an iron fist, strictly controlling her five daughters.

"Following the death of her second husband, Bernarda Alba declares an eight-year mourning period, imposing an oppressive atmosphere of sadness and isolation in the house. Her decision not only limits her daughters' interactions with the outside world but also suppresses their desires and longings, creating a tension that unfolds throughout the play.” (Good Reads)

The shown English version of The House of Bernarda Alba, published in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series, is translated and introduced by Jo Clifford, and also contains a chronology and suggestions for further reading. There are several other editions of this play available.

Nick Hern Books, 112 pages, 2012 edition (first published in 1936)

EXTRA ACTIVITY

To augment your reading, you are invited to join us for a highly praised performance of Bernarda Albas Haus in German at the Deutsches Schauspielhaus (https://schauspielhaus.de/stuecke/bernarda-albas-haus) on May 8, 2025. Directed by Katie Mitchell, an English director who doesn’t speak German yet has been very successful in German theaters, this production is based on Alice Birch’s new English version, which premiered at the National Theatre, London in 2023. A special edition of Birch's adaptation, as well as an online screening from the National Theatre, is available.

There are only a very few tickets left for the Detusches Schauspielhaus performance on May 8. Carol S. has purchased several tickets for the group in rows 11 and 6 (2nd best price class €48 and €52). If you would like one of these tickets, please contact her.

We hope you can join us to discuss this extraordinary masterpiece.