Nearly 90 years after Federico García Lorca wrote The House of Bernarda Alba, the play continues to feel unsettlingly relevant. Directed by Shomik Ray and staged by Shapno Ekhon, this all-women production is a powerful reminder that control and surveillance are not always imposed from outside, they often take root within the home itself. The play unfolds after the death of Bernarda Alba’s husband, when she imposes eight years of mourning on her five daughters. What follows is tragedy about authority, desire, betrayal and the cost of obedience. Watching it today, one is reminded of philosopher Paulo Freire’s observation that the oppressed become oppressors and go on to reproduce them. Bernarda is not merely an authoritarian figure; she is also a custodian of a system that has shaped her. One dialogue, in particular, lingers long after the curtain falls. “The only right you have is the right of obedience,” says Bernarda to her daughters – it captures the essence of the play. It is a statement that transcends the household and speaks to every structure that values conformity over freedom. The strength of the production lies in its portrayal of the sisters. The jealousy and animosity between them are conveyed with conviction. Rather than uniting against Bernarda’s rule, the daughters become trapped in rivalries fuelled by confinement and frustration, reflecting how repressive systems fracture social relations. The set design reinforces a sense of confinement, with windows serving as reminders of a world that can be seen but not accessed. Adding to it is an evocative musical score by Subhashish Sam that heightens the atmosphere of tension and anticipation running through the play. While rooted in rural Spain, its themes of surveillance, reputation, conformity and control remain recognisable across societies. I wished the production had pushed a little further into the play’s broader political resonances. Bernarda’s household often feels like a metaphor for authoritarian systems, and a sharper emphasis on that dimension could have added more punch.
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