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Original article: Con 28 años de trayectoria: Festival Lluvia de Teatro vuelve a reunir en Valdivia a destacados montajes regionales y nacionales

With 28 Years of Tradition: Lluvia de Teatro Festival Returns to Valdivia Showcasing Notable Regional and National Productions

Some festivals evolve over time from mere programming to integral parts of a city’s identity. In Valdivia, winter comes alive through theater. For 28 years, the International Lluvia de Teatro Festival has brought together theater companies, artists, and audiences, solidifying this event as one of the leading references in the performing arts in southern Chile.

Organized by the Valdivian Cultural Corporation, the festival will present a program over six days that spans classic theater, contemporary drama, circus acts, family theater, and immersive performance experiences, reaffirming its commitment to promoting the performing arts and community engagement.

«The festival, as a winter ritual, has transformed into a space and opportunity for connection, emotion, and collective transformation, aiming through its programming and outreach activities to foster the social appropriation of culture as an active practice of our cultural rights, understanding art as part of who we are, as a tool and language that reflects diverse worlds and imaginaries, and possesses the power to change them,» stated Isabel Tobar, manager of the Valdivian Cultural Corporation.

The festival will kick off on Tuesday, July 21, with «Noche de Reyes,» a production by the Chilean National Theater directed by Rodrigo Pérez, which was selected by the Circle of Art Critics as the best play of 2024.

This staging of William Shakespeare’s classic comedy, translated into Spanish by León Felipe, celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Antonio Varas Theater, as «Noche de Reyes» was the very play that opened its permanent location in November 1954.

On Saturday, July 25, a highlight of the festival will be the presentation of «Vampyr,» directed by renowned Chilean playwright and director Manuela Infante. Using the language of mockumentary and sharp black humor, the play offers a reflection on the ecological crisis, energy models, and the relationship between humans and other forms of life, marking the presence in Valdivia of one of the most internationally recognized Chilean scene creators.

The program will also emphasize family experiences and regional creations.

On Wednesday, July 22, Teatro Marote will present «El Niño de los Fósiles,» a play that integrates puppetry, object theater, and live music to explore childhood and neurodivergence through an inclusive performance experience. Designed as a relaxed function, it aims to create a welcoming environment for individuals with diverse characteristics and sensitivities.

On Thursday, July 23, the Valdivian company El Límite de lo Propio will showcase «Tormenta,» a notable family circus show directed by Francisco Arrazola and Alluitz Riezu, recognized with one of the six awards from the 2025 Cinema and Theater Support Fund from BancoEstado.

Through acrobatics, juggling, and dance, this performance transforms wind, rain, and sun into a playful and sensory experience, inviting children, teenagers, and adults to experience the storm through play, movement, and wonder.

The festival will conclude on Sunday, July 26, with «Aventuras Submarinas: History of our Rivers and Wetlands in Black Light,» by Compañía La Tribu, a family piece that combines black light theater, fluorescent puppetry, and live music to narrate a story inspired by wetlands, marine fauna, and the memory of the 1960 earthquake and tsunami.

Directed by Adolfo Sáez Pontigo and featuring live musical creation by Chola and Gitano, the play offers an immersive experience that highlights the region’s natural heritage and promotes environmental stewardship through stage language.

Readings and Mediations

In addition to performances, the XXVIII International Lluvia de Teatro Festival will feature a mediation program alongside participating companies, promoting spaces for interaction and dialogue between artists and audiences. This will also include a series of dramatized readings, with schedules to be announced soon.

Tickets are available through Passline, as well as in-person sales for seniors and students at the box office of the Teatro Regional Cervantes. All information regarding programming, schedules, mediation activities, and festival news can be found on the website of the Valdivian Cultural Corporation and on social media @ccmvaldivia and @lluviadeteatrovaldivia (IG).

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