A Belfast theatre company is bringing its Irish adaptation of a Spanish classic to Bogotá, Colombia, this weekend (13–15 March).
Tinderbox Theatre Company will present Yerma, by Spanish playwright Federico García Lorca, at the Centro Nacional de las Artes, Sala Delia Zapata Olivella.
Supported by the British Council, this is the company’s first international tour and follows the show’s premiere at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast in October 2024 as part of the Belfast International Arts Festival, where it sold out a four-week run.
Written in 1934, Yerma tells the story of a woman whose desperate desire for a child becomes an all-consuming obsession. The play is widely regarded as one of Lorca’s most important works and a cornerstone of Spanish theatre.
Directed and adapted by Patrick J. O’Reilly, Tinderbox’s production offers a contemporary and wild reinvention of the masterpiece, relocating the story to modern-day Ireland.
The play reimagines Lorca’s tragedy at a family-run hotel in the Cooley Mountains during a chaotic christening celebration. Beneath the surface of the festivities, tensions simmer and secrets begin to emerge. At the centre of the story is Yerma, a woman whose desperate longing for a child grows increasingly intense, pushing her into a surreal and haunting emotional landscape.
Patrick describes this adaptation as “a feverish mix of passion and desire,” adding that “Yerma is more than just a play – it’s an emotionally charged experience, blending the drama of Emmerdale with the intensity of Midsommar.”
Speaking about the international invitation, Ciarán Haggerty, Creative Producer at Tinderbox Theatre Company, said that bringing the production to Colombia was a significant moment for the company.
He said: “Yerma is such a famous text, and Tinderbox wanted to make it our own through the lens of a big Irish Catholic family. In the play we explore what it’s like to be the singled-out black sheep – the one woman at a christening who can’t have a child.
“Taking an Irish adaptation to a Spanish-speaking country like Colombia feels like a huge compliment. Lorca’s writing is such an important part of Spanish cultural history, so to be invited to bring our version there is really special for the company.”
The production will feature Spanish subtitles, ensuring Colombian audiences can follow the story while hearing the cast perform the play with distinctly Irish voices, while also highlighting the cultural and social parallels between the island of Ireland and Colombia.
Director Patrick said: “It’s a really interesting setup – the cast will be performing this famous play with Cavan accents, so there’s a kind of cultural clash on stage. It will be fascinating to see how the humour, heartbreak and emotion land with a Spanish-speaking audience. Irish audiences are quite generous and expressive, so it will be interesting to see how the Colombian audience responds.
“There are also striking parallels between Ireland and Colombia. Yerma explores the pressures women face from family and society – expectations, duty and the weight of tradition. In both countries you see strong family structures, religious influence and gender roles shaping people’s lives. It’s fascinating to bring an Irish adaptation of this story to a Spanish-speaking audience and see how those universal themes translate across cultures.”
he tour comes as Tinderbox continues a run of ambitious productions, following its recent staging of Animal Farm at the MAC in Belfast. The company is known for reimagining classic texts through contemporary, experimental theatre and for supporting young people and emerging artists through workshops and training programmes that explore theatre-making, storytelling, and creative development.
During their visit to Colombia, members of the company will take part in a programme of workshops with local artists and young people.
Ciarán said: “While in Bogotá, Patrick will lead sessions on theatre-making and storytelling, using the play as a starting point to explore ideas about identity, family, and community. It’s exciting to see how Yerma’s themes resonate in Colombia and inspire conversation, creativity, and connection across cultures.”
Also speaking about the production, Colm McGivern, Director, British Council Northern Ireland, said: “It’s fantastic to see a Belfast company taking such a bold and creative production to an international audience for the first time. Yerma is a text with enormous cultural significance, and seeing it reimagined through an Irish lens while connecting with Spanish-speaking audiences is a real testament to the power of theatre to bridge cultures. The workshops and engagement with young people and local artists will also leave a lasting impact, building links and sharing experiences across borders.”
For more information on Tinderbox Theatre Company visit: https://www.tinderbox.org.uk/
This initiative continues the British Council’s work fostering connections, understanding, and trust between the UK and the world through education, arts, and English language teaching. To find out more about British Council’s work in Northern Ireland, visit their website or follow on X, Facebook, or Instagram.