**The XVI Baja California Children’s Theatre Week Begins**
The much-anticipated XVI Baja California Children’s Theatre Week, also known as the “Ray Garduño” theater festival, is set to grace the cities of Tijuana, Ensenada, and Tecate from October 6 to October 12, 2024. Initiated in 2009 by Michelle Guerra and Ray Garduño, this annual event aims to foster artistic exchanges among theater companies worldwide, focusing on children’s creative expression and their right to cultural experiences.
This year’s festival will feature a host of performances at the Teatro Universitario “Benito Juárez” in Ensenada, Teatro Universitario in Tecate, and the Centro Cultural Tijuana (CECUT). The Colectivo de Teatro en Espiral, under Michelle Guerra’s leadership, has organized the event in partnership with diverse sponsors, including PROFEST, Fundación Internacional de la Comunidad A.C., Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC), and CECUT.
The festival offers a variety of performances by six national theater companies and one international group, ensuring there’s something for audiences of all ages. Michelle Guerra highlighted that two workshops would be available in Tijuana: “Unlocking Creativity” led by Marios Kakoulli from Cyprus and “Puppet Construction” by Carlos Converso of the Company Mano y Contramano.
All shows will begin at 6:00 PM, except for the Ensenada performance “Pájaro” on October 12, which will take place at 1:00 PM. Entry is free, encouraging families and theater professionals to partake in these enriching cultural experiences.
For detailed information and updates, enthusiasts can follow the activities on the social media channels of Colectivo de Teatro en Espiral, Baja California Children’s Theatre Week “Ray Garduño”, Cultura UABC, and the Centro Cultural Tijuana.
**Program Schedule for Ensenada:**
– October 6: “The Bear Who Wasn’t” by Mano y Contramano, directed by Carlos Converso from Xalapa.
– October 7: “Bam, Bum” by Haus Company Theater, directed by Marios Kakoulli from Cyprus.
– October 8: “The Mystery of Belisa” by La Gorgona Teatro, directed by Uriel García Solís from Estado de México.
– October 9: “Trenza” by Colectivo de Teatro en Espiral, directed by Michelle Guerra Adame from Baja California.
– October 10: “Crows Don’t Comb Their Hair” by La Clepsidra, directed by Darinka Ramírez from Baja California-Chiapas.
– October 11: “Josefina, the Nahual Girl” by Dionisiacas Colectivo Teatral, directed by Joan Alexis Robles from Veracruz.
– October 12: “Bird” by Idiotas Teatro, directed by Karla Armendáriz and Lucía Pardo from Ciudad de México-Oaxaca.
**Additional Program Updates**
In other news, the city is bustling with activities aimed at supporting community and health. A campaign titled “Conquer Cancer” has been launched to reduce breast cancer incidences by promoting changes in four lifestyle habits. This initiative is part of broader efforts to improve public health awareness and outcomes within Baja California.
Stay tuned for more updates on engaging local events and initiatives within the cultural and health sectors, as Baja California continues to foster a rich community environment.