“Being a part of theater has been really therapeutic for me. I’ve realized how important it is for us to tell our stories. If I can get up there and do it, maybe other people can let go of their shame too.”
– Sandra, Mayfair resident and mother
Community Engagement
Popular Theater
Using popular theater we demonstrate many of the issues facing us as a community, facilitate dialogue so that we can learn from one another, and identify ways we can begin to take action.
Popular theater uses stories and images as codes to mirror the conflicts that arise in people’s everyday lives. While the actors don’t give answers, they work with the community to come up with its own solutions to the problems presented.
Somos Mayfair has worked with popular theater since 2004, beginning with our staff promotores as actors, then broadening to include Mayfair residents through Familias Unidas de Mayfair (Mayfair Families United). We share our theater performances and workshops throughout the community and region: at schools, health fairs, community centers, and in people’s living rooms. We have been invited to present at conferences on immigrant rights, community health and popular education.
The content of the short popular theater presentations we have developed include:
- The many challenges faced by new immigrants in Hasta la Vista, Baby! (See you Later, Baby!); link to Hasta La Vista, Baby! Script
- Know your Rights in case of an immigration raid and the realities of unscrupulous immigration aid in Beware of Notarios;
link to Know Your Rights Script
link to Beware of the Notarios Script - The root causes of obesity and diabetes and cultural solutions to health in La Dulce Vida y la Amarga Muerte de Pancho Mojado (The Sweet Life and Bitter Death of Pancho Mojado). link to La Dulce Vida Script in English
link to La Dulce Vida Script in Spanish
See the slide show! - The desires of immigrant parents to raise healthy children despite the pressures of the dominant culture Las Tentaciones de Fatañas y Lucifiera (The Temptations of Fatanas and Lucifer);
link to Las Tentaciones de Fatañas y Lucifiera Script in Spanish
See the slide show! - The multiple oppressions faced by immigrant women in Somos Mujeres, Somos Vida! (We are Women, We are Life!).
link to Somos Mujeres, Somos Vida! Script
See the slide show!
See us in action! Our 10-minute presentation of Hasta la Vista, Baby! (See You Later, Baby!) demonstrates the many challenges facing immigrants. It was produced by Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees and Active Voice (2006).
link to video coming soon
Our 20 minute Somos Mujeres, Somos Vida! (We are Women, We are Life!) documentary illustrates the behind-the-scenes process in the creation of the original play by the women of Teatro Familias Unidas. It was produced by the UC Santa Cruz Social Documentation Program (2008).
link to video coming soon.
Our 10 minute Las Comprometidas (Dedicated Women) interview with two Mayfair mothers about the role of theater in their lives and in building community. It was produced by the UC Santa Cruz Social Documentation Program (2008).
link to video coming soon
To order a DVD contact us.
Community Events
Our work includes organizing community-wide events to celebrate the cultural heritage of Mayfair’s residents. In May we organize annual Mother’s Day events to honor the role of mothers and increase the visibility and leadership of immigrant women in the community. [link to article and slide show]
In December we organize a Posada walk and theatrical Pastorela event reflecting the immigrant experience of Mayfair and emphasizing the health of our children as a priority of the whole community. [link to article and slide show]
In October 2008 we will also organize our first annual Dia de los Muertos event that will include altar building, mask-making workshops, indigenous ceremony and a theater performance honoring our ancestors.
Popular Education Workshops
We also design and facilitate popular education workshops that accompany our theater work regarding health justice, immigrant rights and early childhood development. We create participatory, creative and engaging spaces for community residents to enter deeply into dialogue and analysis about relevant issues to their lives.
If you would like to invite us to facilitate a workshop, present one of our theater performances, or join us as a volunteer or actor please contact us.
