about the project.
'Alerta' is a political and immersive play inspired by the feminist occupation held by the students of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile in May 2018, demanding an improvement in the Violence Sexual Protocol and denouncing the lack of measures that prevent and punish gender-based violence in the establishment.
synopsis.
In May 2018, a group of 300 female students occupied the main campus of their university, the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. As the most prestigious university in Latin America as well as Chile's most conservative institution of higher education, this three-day lock in was in protest of issues of institutionalized gender discrimination and the deficiency of the Sexual Violence Protocol. Over the course of these three days the students had to face the adversities of the biased media coverage, the threat of special forces and authorities, the backlash of other students, and the unexpected tribulations that their own relationships would undergo.
tomas feministas, chile 2018.
During the month of May 2018, an "unexpected" feminist uprising erupted, shaking the universities - and some high schools - of the Chile and spilled over into society. This uprising demanded an end to abuse, increased investigation and sanctions, non-sexist education, equality, and dignity. This is how old feminist battles began to be rekindled with new protagonists, who forged unprecedented alliances and forms of interaction with power that continue to resonate to this day (Aguilera, Navarrete, Bravo, 2021, p. 11)
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The absence of concrete actions, indifference from the power structures within institutions, the emergence of new narratives of abuse, alarming femicide statistics in the country, as well as the actions of the #NiUnaMenos and Me Too movements, all constituted a series of visible events that triggered a counter-hegemonic response against university culture by the students, also impacting the wider community (Aguilera, et.al., 2021, p. 11)p.12)
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A 'toma' or occupation in Chile is a regular way of protesting, especially in educational contexts when students (both from schools and universities) take over their institutions to demand better learning conditions and quality in education. by day, student and faculty occupations spread throughout the national territory, with some lasting for months. The students often chose to establish separatist spaces on numerous occasions, as a place to reflect on and recognize themselves. They needed a safe environment for listening, for dialogue and emotions, and to speak out and unearth the "personal secrets," the events normalized by silence. (Aguilera et. al., 2021, p.12) For the majority of the students, the occupation, or feminist revolution, changed their lives, stirring them deeply with respect to their history, their emotions, and their relationships with their surroundings (Aguilera et. al., 2021, p.14).
Initially the separatist assemblies were cathartic gatherings, but they later evolved into demands and petitions with different emphases based on the reality of each institution: (Aguilera, Navarrete, Bravo, 2021, p. 14)
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Urgent statements from authorities on gender discrimination
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Acceleration and transparency of ongoing investigations
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Recognition of the chosen names of transgender students
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Initiation of work on updating, creating, and implementing protocols,
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Integration of a gender perspective into curricula
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Equal pay for various positions
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Increased presence of female professors and women in leadership roles,
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The eradication of machismo in the classrooms
sources.
cast.
Where is our cast from?
Alerta is created with a 100% Latin American creative team and cast, having performers from Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Nicaragua, Perú, Brasil and México. This diverse ensemble brings together a rich tapestry of perspectives, experiences, and artistic backgrounds, adding depth and reflecting the similar stories that most of us have lived in our countries of origin.
