Biobío: The Chilling Play «Dolores» Returns to the Stage with a New Cast

The theatrical work «Dolores,» written and directed by researcher and playwright Javier Ibarra, is characterized by its elements of horror, familial desolation, and a fantastical atmosphere.

Originally premiered in 2007, the play makes a return to the stage 20 years later featuring a cast composed of students from the Theater program at the University of Concepción, alongside seasoned regional artists like Francisca Díaz and Sebastián Chandía.

This revival will allow the community to engage with a rarely explored language locally, inviting them to experience, in an unconventional space, the various dimensions of a work that emphasizes atmosphere and emotional depth.

The series of performances for «Dolores» will take place from May 13 to 23, running from Wednesday to Saturday at 8:00 PM, at the UDEC Theater Extension Center.

Javier Ibarra notes, «The play challenges idealized narratives about family, childhood, safety, and domestic normalcy. I am interested in how terror emerges precisely when what should be familiar, safe, or recognizable becomes strange, threatening, or indecipherable.» Ibarra also directs the national company Teatro del Terror and teaches at the University of Concepción.

Furthermore, the playwright adds, «What emerges is a desire to create fables, tell stories, and produce possible worlds on stage with a distinct signature, where terror, as a viable language within the Chilean scene, is not merely a genre but a form of sensitive and critical thought.»

A glimpse of the cast of «Dolores.» Photo by Paula Acuña.

Exploring the Codes of Horror

According to Ibarra, «Dolores» possesses a foundational character, as its dramaturgy and staging would mark the beginning of an artistic journey focused on exploring horror, the fantastic, and gothic literature, utilizing alternative spaces and atmospheric elements in the creation of theatrical experiences.

In this sense, he highlights that this revival has allowed him to reflect on those initial concerns, analyze them from the present, and appreciate their relevance.

«It is a play that dialogues with references such as Edgar Allan Poe, Hitchcock (for instance, Psycho), Kubrick, and other areas of the horror imaginary that have always intrigued me. This constellation of references acts as part of an aesthetic pursuit that seeks to construct a unique unity,» explains the director of the production.

Starring Amanda Chacón, Tomás Gutiérrez, Rafaela Ganter, Francisca Díaz, and Sebastián Chandía, the play features scenic design by Paula Acuña, with costume design by Annette Castro. Direction, lighting design, and soundscapes are by Javier Ibarra.

The collaboration with UDEC’s Theater School, its students, and the emergence of new spaces for performing arts languages is another novelty brought by this revival, injecting dynamism into Concepción’s cultural scene and enabling future performers to gain experience in a professional context.

Performance Details

The eight performances of the revival of «Dolores» will take place at the UDEC Theater Extension Center (Edmundo Larenas 36, Concepción), from May 13 to 23, Wednesday to Saturday, at 8:00 PM. The play is aimed at audiences aged 13 and older, and the ticket price follows a «Pay What You Can» concept.