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Women Playwrights International

Conference
Santiago de Chile 2018
LAST NEWSLETTER
E d i t o r i a l

A few months have gone through and after administrative closings, holidays
and balances, we began to close WPIC Chile 2018.
This is, therefore, our last delivery as organizing committee and for that
reason, we have decided to make a closing telling you what meant for us
meant this three years adventure.
We wish to share with you the intimate aspects and how we lived the results
of this meeting in Santiago. We wish to do so in order to leave a record, and,
at the same time, motivate you through our experience, encourage you to go
on participating in this wonderful connection platform that´s been going on for
30 years.

Wishing to see you soon,

Thank you for the trust, the words, the participation and the energy to have
made the 11th WPIC Chile a milestone in our lives.

With love,

WPIC Chile 2018


11° WPIC Santiago de Chile
October 7th - 12th, 2018
Territory, society and female dramaturgy.

103 accredited artists from 31 countries from Latin America, Asia, Ocea-
nia, Africa and Europe.
32 Dramatized Readings
11 Workshops
6 Stagings 5 Round Tables,
exhibition of 1 Film
1 Artistic installation
1 Theatrical edition book fair.
9 directors and 46 actors and actresses for dramatized readings.
39 Volunteers.
2037 Followers in social networks.

14 Cooperation alliances with cultural institutions from Chile and the rest of the
world were present in our country. (CC La Moneda, CC GAM, ICTUS, Goethe Institut, Institut Fra-
nçais, British Council, Embassy of Norway, Embassy of the Philippines, Ministry of Culture of
Colombia, PICE Spain, National Theater, Teatro del Puente, Sidarte, 20th Century Workshop
Yolanda Hurtado )

Six collaboration agreements were signed with performing arts schools in


Santiago and Valparaíso. (DETUCH, DUOC UC, UC Theater School, UNIACC, Finis
Terrae Theater School, Playa Ancha University).
11° WPIC Santiago de Chile
7 - 12 de octubre 2018
Territorio, sociedad y dramaturgia femenina.

WPIC CHILE TEAM


Sally Campusano, director
Muriel Miranda, co director, general producer
Carla Romero, dramatized readings, production
Constanza Blanco, dramatized readings, production
Maria Carolina Quintana, conference convenor,
translation. .
Leticia Arbelo, Social media manager. Volunteers
Patricia (Nona) Fernández, contents. Paulette Aguad- Alioshka Calderón- Amanda
Ximena Carrera, Texts selection process, juries. Cornejo- Catalina Muñoz- Francisco Pizarro-
Javiera Rivera- María José Valenzuela- María
Andrea Jeftanovic, round tables.
José Mejías Pereira- Sabrina Miranda- Thania
Daniela Molina, workshops, newsletter layout Rodriguez- Yaravi Sarmientos- Joska
Valenzuela- Maria Ignacia Toledo- Viviana
Saavedra- Enoe Coulon- Jessenia Chamorro
Salas- Alexandra Smith- Macarena Andrews-
.
Octavio García- Antonia Mendia - Ébana Garín -
Colaborators: Susan Soto- Tomás Henríquez - Francisca
Belén Abarza, technical production coordinator Andrea Piñeira- Héctor Palacios- Diego Bravo-
Francisco Herrera, technical production Marco Solis- Jorge Yacoman- Francisca A. P-
Alejandro Délano, Design Carla Cecilia- Diego Andres - Macarena Andrews
Juan Ananía, subtitles stagings -Pavel Pavelic Jofré- Valeria Martínez- Gabriela
Elvira Borgoño, Technician Arancibia- Tania Opazo- Maglio Pérez- Gabriela
Felipe,Lehmann, technician González- Eleonor Concha.
WPI CHILE 2018 OPENING SPEECH
(OCTOBER 7TH, 2018, SANTIAGO, CHILE)

TEATRO NACIONAL CHILENO


practical issues. Carrying out our
SALLY: We write from the LETI: We write from the daily life, but also living another in
south of the world, clinging to CARO: We write from the edge brink. In a spot where genre which we entrench ourselves
the map, on the verge of falling of language, with a Spanish tongue condemns us to double our behind a computer and fire
into the void. imposed by the Conquerors, efforts, to earn our space, words to the stage.
XIMENA: We write somewhat while fighting to master and showing that we too are
isolated, in the confinement of express ourselves in foreign capable; that in writing and SALLY: And it is from this
being surrounded by the Andes languages. on stage female names should bordering zone that we want to
Mountains and the Pacific Ocean; shine. invite you. You gladly accepted
between the Atacama desert, MURIEL: We write from the racial the challenge, and came all the
the driest in the world, and the mixture that we are, from this CONSTANZA: We write way from Asia, North America,
South Pole. hybrid half-breed identity, half without funding. Outside the Africa, the Nordic countries, the
indigenous, half European; a institution. Driven by passion Middle East, or from neighbouring
DANIELA: We write with the mixture of cultures. and joy. countries submerged in urgent
awareness of those who crisises. Your presence, your
recognize themselves as being on NONA: We write from the edge CARLA: We do it on the work and your tenacity to
the edge of things. Keeping a of History. With a savage recent edge of time. On the edge of overcome obstacles confirm to
close eye, watching out at what past: a military dictatorship that our professional life. On the us that from the edges we all
is happening in other territories, braided our present and our verge of motherhood, of support each other and conform
trying to make contact. future into a tangle of threads family, of domesticity, of the to this core that must be heard.
from which we still cannot escape.
ANDREA: The word on the stage women. In order to do so, a conference
intensifies the gesture of removing a is organized every three years in different
barrier and inviting us to pass through it. countries of the world where workshops, would surely be pleased with what’s

But the boarder does not necessarily mean round tables, play readings and stagings taking place right now. From here, we

a language limit. take place. thank and pay homage to her, a homage

No. We, the women, the artists, the that we also extend to our friends Lene

playwrights of the world, know it. ANDREA: The first conference was held Therese Teigen and Marcia Johnson,

We know how powerful our words are, as in Buffalo, New York. There, more than route partners during these six years of

well as the ability they have to build two hundred women from more than 30 work. They are our special guests at this

bridges, to break down limits, to undo countries met, an among those writers conference.

prejudices. was our outstanding playwright Isidora


Aguirre. It is an honor that today, thirty DANIELA: And it was in South Africa in

SALLY: That is why we have called this years later, her country hosts this new 2015 that we, 10 colleagues, decided to

week, and that is what we call to the conference. throw ourselves into the void announcing

audience that will come to listen to the in Cape Town that Chile would be the

voices that land in Chile to be part of the SALLY: Since then, conferences have been host of the next conference.

first WPI conference that will take place in held in different countries around the
Latin America. world. Latin American voices were sparse MURIEL: Since then we have worked on

II until 2012, but Mireille Bergenstrom, sketching, dreaming, planning and

XIMENA: WPIC is an international director of that year’s conference, insisted managing this conference that highlights

organization that since 1988 has seeked to on opening it up to Latin America. Today another landmark: for the first time,

promote and spread dramaturgy written by Mireille is no longer with us, but she Spanish will be the official language.
abuses to the detriment of women in all
III
areas, including the artistic one.
CONSTANZA: In this Chilean version, SALLY: It did not seem possible or easy, but
more than one hundred and twenty here we are. A group of stubborn playwrights
CARO: WPIC presents itself as an
women from more than twenty five who shared the same dream that today is real.
opportunity to highlight dramaturgy
countries around the world are present Because holding this meeting has been a great
written by women in our territory, as
with us today. We will gather to reflect challenge, it would not have been possible
well as in the international one. Also as a
about our work, exchanging social, political without the company of those who have
platform to install gender as a theme in
and emotional points of view from each of become our great accomplices: the theaters
order to discuss and reflect upon this.
our different nations. and institutions that decided to believe in us
and join this meeting. They have opened the
DANIELA: Still, not all the plays are
LETICIA: It is a huge opportunity to build doors of their homes to welcome us. Thanks
exclusively themed around feminist
bonds with each other, to infect ourselves to them, and to a whole net of collaborators,
subjects. There are also universal plays,
with other imaginaries, to reflect on our it is that this conference has become a reality.
others about national politics, others are
role and the conditions for women in our However, while we have received enthusiasm
testimonials, and others touch upon
environment. and energy from them, we have also received
intimacy. There are realistic, delirious,
the most frustrating answer possible from the
and surrealistic plays too. Nevertheless,
CARLA: Because this conference is held in Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, who
we believe that the imaginaries with which
total harmony with the global trend of have closed the door in our faces again and
we have evolved, and the role that we as
discussing gender issues, which is intended again, reminding us that we are always on the
women have in society, are determining
to advance into equality of rights. We are edge, writing, as we said, with the awareness
factors when developing our discourses as
living in a moment of deep cultural changes, of those who knows themselves as outsiders.
playwrights.
of complaints around inequalities and
XIMENA: But here we are. Playwrights, clinging on the map, with our arms open,
directors, actresses, critics, researchers, of because all of us together -and that’s a
the most diverse latitudes, who for five promise- we won’t fall down.
days and five nights will be standing on the
same piece of land to display together the
word and the body.

NONA: Women who have pushed down The WPIC Chile 2018 committee.
cultural barriers and distances, to reflect
together on the territory that has always
united us: theater. This wonderful art that
has taken place for more than twenty-five
centuries on earth, and that takes us into
the primary borders of the human being.
The one of existence and fiction, between
wakefulness and sleep. Between the public
and the private.

MURIEL: Friends of the world:


Welcome to Chile.

SALLY: We receive you from the edge,


Foto Maglio Pérez
It has been a luxury to have them as traveling companions.
Closing Speech It will be a luxury to have them as friends in the future.
October 11th, 2018 Thanks Muriel, Carolina, Constanza, Carla, Ximena, Daniela, Leticia, Andrea, Nona.
Centro Cultural GAM
Thanks to all of you who got in this train without knowing for certain what the
To travel. To move. Go from one place to another. destiny was: Belén, Francisco, Alejandro, Felipe, Elvira
Most of the times, we do it in a straight line, through the highway, or the main
avenue. Thanks Lene, Ana and Marcia for the trust.
Some other times, we decide to take paths, shortcuts, alternative routes and, it
is at these moments, when we turn off from the most obvious route, that the Thanks to all of those who made this conference possible: theaters and cultural
adventure begins. institutions, the women directors, the actresses and actors, the volunteers, the
During this week we have launched ourselves on an adventure. ones who by their own way supported financially the project. Thanks for
We have traveled rocky roads, winding curves and long roads where we have believing, thanks for the trust.
been able to appreciate landscapes and their colors.
Today, this trip comes to an end. Thanks to you coleagues and dear friends, for being here, for having made this
For our team, it has meant three years of walking, week a free exchange territory, without boundaries, without limits.
Of travelling,
Of meeting, Thanks to our families for they have been by our side, and have collaborated with
Of fatigue, each one of us.
of dreams.
And it is, in this last station, that it is a need to take the word on a personal And here, I take a new freedom which is an obligation for me because I must
behalf and bid farewell thank the person who has accompanied me during all this time, assuming this
after 6 years of intense work, which included the organization of the Latin conference as a family project. Thanks to Benjamin.
American delegation that participated in Cape Town and then, the
concretization of this first WPIC in our continent, in our country. Today, the conference that we plan so much comes to an end to begin a new
It has been 6 years of hard work, but also a lot of growth thanks to the bonds cycle that will take you to the great north and, starts now snaking between the
established with my peers around the world from my computer, these bonds Andean mountains, the Amazon rainforest and the bright Caribbean to continue
are undoubtedly the great power of this network of women: knowing how to to motivate Latin American playwrights to join this network.
take advantage of technology opportunities and communications to connect, A trip that will be led by a new group of women: the new WPI team and the
support, unite and mix. organizers of the WPIC in Canada wish you three bright and fruitful years.
However, it is impossible to say goodbye without first thanking the wonderful Friends of the world, we say goodbye with joy and with the hope that this week
team of artists and friends who courageously joined this crusade in an unselfish will glowduring the next three years in projects and words that build bridges
and generous manner. between the geographies of here and there.
During these three years we have shared our achievements and See you soon! Sally Campusano
disappointments at the end of messages, emoticons, calls at irrelevant times and See you in Canada!
Torres
endless emails ... together we have been mothers, we have separated, we have
written books, we have premiered works, we have fallen in love ... Directora WPIC Chile
palabras al cierre

.
WPI Chile 2018 started for me as an invitation, a dream, a wish, a fantasy. Something
intangible. After South Africa 2015, a group of 8 women began to meet physically and by skype over
three years, to be able to organize and shape what until that moment was still an impetus, powerful
and fragile at the same time, like a bubble that could have burst and that would be all. There were
desires, words, emails, invitations, questions, but everything was still dangerously abstract and
immaterial. How could I, at least, collaborate in the organization of a playwriting conference? In my
life I had crossed the idea of being able to do something like that. I had a certain notion that there
was a lot of work to be done, but it was always for later. 2018 was a distant year until it arrived, but
still, October - the month in which the conference would take place - the tenth of the year, was
distant and suddenly in a matter of months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, seconds, the conference
was a reality. I, at least, worked like a soldier on Sally's orders without much knowledge of the scale
of what was coming. The conference was a ship in the distance that suddenly, had reached its shore
and had to receive all women from different parts of the globe who, gladly, had agreed to land here
in Chile. And in the intensity of one week, we were part of Babel: we multiplied, planned and
improvised, translated voices, speeches, accompanied, dismantled our own and others' houses to
produce the sets, and distributed bags and credentials, we met and exchanged with our guests a
piece of our lives in the language we could, with gestures, hugs, smiles, looks, and often unfinished
words. And suddenly, after five days, the conference came to an end in our bodies, heads and
hearts without much knowledge of how we had managed to carry it out but with the certainty of
having done a beautiful and unforgettable job.
Ximena Carrera (Chile)
Text Selection Process
palabras al cierre

My experience in the work of social networks in WPI Chile 2018 was fascinating. After three years of construction and production
with the team, I can say that the process was a lot of learning and dedication. I think that a field was opened in the area of communication that we did
not have before and networks were opened up among the participants that without doubt will generate strong working unions. The creation of
Instagram account and the updating of the Facebook page was very important because it allowed for the first time in the history of WPI to upload
everything that was happening moment by moment in the meeting that took place in October as well as uploading interviews and moments before the
conference that undoubtedly generated a state of beautiful expectation and anxiety. It was also very important because through the social networks all
the artists that passed through the conference were given visibility. As social media manager, I feel very satisfied, happy to generate bridges and
sorority among women and confident that this will be the beginning of a much wider communication opening for WPI.

Leticia Arbelo
WPI Social Media Officer
palabras al cierre

.
When I went to South Africa to the first WPIC to which I was invited in 2015, I never
imagined that together with this group of compatriots women we were going to venture into
the titanic task of organizing the WPIC 2018 conference. After more than three years of
meetings and work online and live, thanks to the effort, time and dedication, we managed to hold a
conference of which I am proud. On the way we met, admired and supported each other (several
of us had complex personal moments), and that exchange was very valuable for me both work
and personally. That human encounter is, for me, the best pay for this job.
As the person in charge of the workshops, I had the opportunity to see the numerous and varied
proposals of the workshops that they postulated, which gave me a perspective of the lines of
interest that go around the world. During the development of the workshops, the truth is that I felt
the frustration of not being able to multiply and teleport myself in order to participate in each of the
workshops that were given, since each was a privileged meeting and exchange for those who
participated
Today, after the conference, I return to my life as a stage artist and voice teacher here in France
and I begin to look with nostalgia at the WPIC Santiago 2018 conference, re-visit the places, the
dressing room where we all made the bags, the chat where we received more than 100 messages
per day, the halls of GAM, the smiles and hugs of women around the world ... Then the future
consoles me, I think of Canada and next conference, I think about how the hell I'm going to
arrange to be part of that new WPIC in 2021. Because something has become clear to me after
South Africa 2015 and Chile 2018: this is just the beginning.
Thanks to all and see you soon, powerful, talented and beautiful women!

Daniela García
(Ex-Molina Castro) 
Workshops Coordinator
palabras al cierre

Round tables: The Babel Tower with women playwrights of the For me as a researcher and theater critic it was a
luxury to listen to these creative women.
world All of them opened a global and burning
conversation that, I hope, will expand in the next
conference in Montreal, Canada, in the year
It was a challenge to organize conversation tables with members of the five continents,
2021.
who spoke in two, three languages. But despite the differences there was a common
denominator: the theater, the word on the scene. A series of actresses, directors, critics
were composing the four dialogues that were organized during the WPIs program. In that
Andrea Jeftanovic 
way, at a table, there was a woman from Sweden, another from Africa, Chile, Italy,
Round table Coordinator
Canada, who talked about their creative experiences. They told stories, reflected on their
line of work, talked about the problems of their societies, contrasted testimonies.

On each day we witnessed that tower of Babel. Accents, languages, colors, different
generations raised their voices. In one way or another, what appeared constantly was the
professional invisibility, the difficulty to advance in the personal career, the little presence
of women in the dramaturgical canon, in the tables, in the billboard. And of course, the
forms of violence in each of the countries; from the law of a safe abortion. Stories of
effort, of resistance, of combining personal lives and artistic lives. Each of them, with their
tone, were transmitting their passion, their commitment; there was laughter, excitement,
future projects.

Thus, each day, we talked about dramaturgy and territory. Or, we thought of the body as a
room of its own and a political entity. On another occasion, we heard about the clash of
civilizations. Also, there was a tour of great dramatists in Latin America. And, finally, there
was a panel on the conquest of civil rights in the dramaturgy of women. Interesting,
forceful themes that activated reflections, powerful phrases.
wash dishes, move to the
bus, go to meetings with the
baby in my arms, deal with
palabras al cierre differences and learn from
them, to find us ... that's WPI,
knotty tangled fabric, knots in
which you finally anchor,
WPI, are three years of words,
knots that shelter you, pick to my partner because you
three years of connections and
you up, force you to think that showed me that there are
interferences with women who write to language map collapses, there are new ways in other possible men, thanks
leave a tattoo on the story that we exist construction to make us to Pedro my son and thanks
reverses, gets confused and
and we do not settle for our existence. visible, to value ourselves to WPI that allowed me to
even so, we could coexist and
It was up to Constanza and me to guide and to act. move my body through
understand each other. It was
the readings of the selected works. cities, rooms, borders,
not easy…
They were 32 readings, with a duration Thanks to my teammate corners of life never before
It was a meeting full of
of 15 minutes each, that is to say, 32 Constanza, her energy, perceived.
confidence, in which we learned
works that had to be synthesized at that clarity and experience as a
without a doubt to work beyond
time ... then, to be delivered to 10 producer in the field, made
our strengths and resources,
directors, each one of them with a team possible an underground Carla Romero
once again, the sum of good will
of 5 actors, two professionals and three work network with volunteers dramatized readings,
made it possible, still, this is not
students. At the end of each reading, a convened and organized by production
something that I feel proud of,
conversation was to be held with the her, a pillar of what
on the contrary, there were
playwrights and the directors. There happened in the days of the
moments of deep
were 3 or 4 blocks of readings per day conference. Thanks also to
disappointment at the deafness
simultaneously. all the partners of the
of our rulers, but anyway ... that,
they do not deserve to be organization committee,
Thus began the crossing and travelling of including the technicians,
mentioned.
words ... thanks to Sally for her
Words in strange and distant languages abysmal perseverance,
We assumed a giant
that must have been interpreted a thanks to all those who came
responsibility and despite
thousand times. From its original and those who could not
everything, we made it…
language to English, from English to come, thanks mom for your
After living those intense WPI
Spanish and so on, again and again ... support in those days, thanks
days, I stop with more courage
what a wonder, for the first time, the
and anger to write, direct, act,
By Sally
palabras al cierre Campusano

this conference and, the three of us who were in I happened to arrive at the 9th WPIC in Stockholm
July 2017, 3AM, France/ 10PM Chile
charge of the general production, that is: Muriel, (Sweden) in 2012 after finding the rebound call on the
Whatsapp Group: Production Nucleus (C: Caro, M:
Carolina and me, were responsible for sending it, internet. That year my text "El Olivo" was selected to be part
Muriel, S: Sally)
without forgetting any detail (because that would of the dramatized readings.
C: Got a problem with the platform
cause inmediate elimination of our chances to During that week I understood the great power of this
M: Me too, all the information that I write in, is erased, can’t
apply), which made that night, a nightmare. platform: an eclectic, open and warm format where dialogue
be registered
I guess that together, the three of us, might be is the fundamental piece to relate and reflect together.
C: What do we do?
able to write an entire encyclopedia with the I did not hesitate therefore to accept Lene's invitation to be
M: I don’t know. Let’s wait for Sally’s answer
thousands of mails and messages that we part of the steering committee as a delegate from Latin
C: But it’s 3 am, she must be sleeping
exchanged during these three years Together, America, because it seemed to me that it was essential to
S: ·¿?#!!!!¨Ç*·###∞¬!!!
we became a powerful triad that made me feel as open this network to colleagues in our continent and, later,
M: There’s a problem: we only have 5 hours left, if we wait
part of a super heroes brotherhood. in an almost "suicidal" act I could not refuse the proposal to
for them to answer our email, we won’t be able to upload the
But, assume the project of Chile as headquarters.
whole information.
Muriel’s time and energy, The rest is history.
S: And what if we move all the information to another
Carolina’s multitalents and bravery I only know that these years were a mixture of madness,
account?
fatigue and experiences. An experience (limit) that will be
C: Now?!
Added to with me throughout my life, but above all I confirmed the
S: ………
Carla’s creativity and persistance need to continue fighting to make ourselves visible and that
S: I don’t know if we can take the risk not to upload the other
Constanza’s energy only sorority will allow us to face the ill-fated times ahead of
information later, besides in the culture ministry they haven’t
Leticia’s humour and good will us by virtue of those who are controlling power through out
even noticed that the page has problems.
Nona’s poetry and sense of justice the world.
M: then we have no alternative. Carolina, let’s use your
Ximena’s experience and pragmatism I finish this phase happy for the work done, proud of the
users account.
Daniela’s commitment and conviction women with whom I had the opportunity to work and share,
C:Ok
Andrea’s sensibility and intelligence satisfied to see that new colleagues from my region have
S: Upload all the information that you can. I’ll get up at 7 am
Belen’s organization and vision, joined the leadership committee, pleased to have made a
here and will take over.
Those were the elements that combined and bilingual WPIC that brought new colors and sounds from
M: Ok
made WPIC Chile possible. this side of the world to the history of this network.
C: We managed to finish at the last minute our application
It turned out to be a spontaneous alquimy that But above all, I finish this phase convinced that today more
to the public cultural funds from the Culture Ministry, we won
was born in CapeTown in 2015, when all the than ever we need to take action in our hands from the
with our project and that represented the economic basis for
latinamerican committee assumed the everyday routine, that militancies are no longer in the
financing WPIC Chile.
organization of the 11th. WPIC Chile, maybe political parties, but in the ability we have to join together
In order to apply to that fund, we had been working for
moved on by the same mystical sensation that and mobilize for our ideas.
weeks with the whole team bringing together the necessary
had moved me years ago.
information that would justify the money we were asking for
PRODUCTION
IMAGES
HOST COMMITTEE WPIC Chile 2018

Directors
Sally Campusano Torres
Muriel Miranda

Producers
Muriel Miranda
Sally Campusano WPI 2018- 2021
Constanza Blanco.
María Carolina Quintana President: August Andong, The Philippines, Asia Region
Vice-president: Rosemary Johns, Australia,  Ocenia Region
Conference Convenor WPI and logo Conference convenor: Ann Lambert, Canada, North America
creation Region
María Carolina Quintana Daniela Molina Castro o African Representative: Achiro P Olwoch, Uganda 
European Representative: Ana Valbuena Fernandez, Spain
Texts Selection and round tables Newsletter South American Representative: Ximena Carrera, Chile
Ximena Carrera Sally Campusano North/South America Rep+ communications: Ana Candida
Nona Fernández Carolina Quintana Carneiro, Brazil/USA/(Italia)
Andrea Jeftanovic Daniela Molina Castro Social Media ++: Leticia Arbelo, Argentina

Playreadings social networks


Carla Romero Leticia Arbelo
Constanza Blanco THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE :
Networking and Fundings
Workshops Sally Campusano Amy Jephta, South Africa
Muriel Miranda Marcia Johnson, Canada
Anna Kay France, USA
Technical Production Jyoti Mhapsekar, India
Belén Abarza Linda Parris-Bailey, USA
Carla Romero Sandra Shotlander, Australia
Julie Holledge, Australia
Graphic Design Lene Therese Teigen, Norway
Alejandro Délano

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