Original article: Santiago no es Chile: Teatro Sidarte recibe en octubre obras del Biobío y Valparaíso

Santiago’s Theater Scene Expands: Teatro Sidarte Hosts Works from Biobío and Valparaíso

In October, Teatro Sidarte, a venue operated by the Chilean Actors’ and Theater Workers’ Union, will launch its «Santiago is not Chile» initiative. This program aims to spotlight creations developed outside the Metropolitan Region, fostering opportunities for regional companies, artists, and productions to connect with new audiences in the capital.

The cycle is rooted in the belief that cultural decentralization also requires mobility. Chile is home to diverse theatrical scenes, with companies and creators developing their practices across various territories. However, significant challenges remain in enabling these productions to travel between regions and secure exhibition spaces, visibility, and community engagement.

As a venue tied to the Actors’ Union, Teatro Sidarte aims to play an active role in addressing this reality by incorporating decentralization into its programming policy.

«Santiago is not Chile» proposes a temporary inversion of the usual narrative: opening a stage in the capital for regions to showcase their languages, experiences, questions, and styles of theater.

The 2026 edition features two productions from Concepción and Valparaíso: The Best Magic Trick Ever Seen, presented by the Concepción-based companies Frío Teatro and L’Aristotelia Chilensis; and The Trial of Democracy, by the Interdisciplinary Collective Experiencia Humana from Valparaíso.

The programming will kick off with The Best Magic Trick Ever Seen, written and directed by Leyla Selman, honored as Best Playwright 2023 by the Circle of Art Critics. The performance will take place on Thursday, October 1, Friday, October 2, and Saturday, October 3, at 7:30 PM.

This production arrives in Santiago after eight performances at the 2026 Festival Off Avignon in France and participation in the Fío Fío Festival at SIDARTE Biobío. Its presentation at Teatro Sidarte marks a particularly significant opportunity for the cycle: a creation from Concepción that has traveled internationally, now finds a space for exhibition and connection with audiences in Santiago.

Through humor and participatory play, the performance delves into themes of memory and mourning, focusing on Margarita, a woman with a peculiar addiction to attending wakes, culminating in an Alcoholics Anonymous session. The production features Frío Teatro and L’Aristotelia Chilensis, starring Evelyn Martínez, Cristóbal Troncoso, Mauricio Agüero, and Sebastián Troncoso.

Coordinates:

Companies: Frío Teatro and L’Aristotelia Chilensis (Concepción, Biobío Region)
Dates: Thursday, October 1, Friday, October 2, and Saturday, October 3, 2026
Playwright and Director: Leyla Selman
Cast: Evelyn Martínez, Cristóbal Troncoso, Mauricio Agüero, and Sebastián Troncoso
Tickets: Pay-What-You-Can ($4,000 – $6,000 – $8,000)
Location: Teatro SIDARTE (Santiago) Ernesto Pinto Lagarrigue #131, Recoleta.
Showtime: 7:30 PM.

The Trial of Democracy

The second part of the cycle will feature The Trial of Democracy, a participatory dark comedy created by the Interdisciplinary Collective Experiencia Humana from Valparaíso, scheduled for Thursday, October 8, Friday, October 9, and Saturday, October 10, at 7:30 PM.

Written and directed by Francisco Ruiz Yáñez, this play constructs a fictional trial in which Democracy stands accused, with History as the prosecutor and the State providing its defense. The audience participates as the “People”, tasked with deliberating, voting, and determining the final verdict for each performance.

This engagement in Santiago marks the collective’s debut at Teatro Sidarte, following performances at venues such as Sala UPLA and Mercado Puerto, coinciding with their celebration of five years of artistic achievements.

The presence of Experiencia Humana further enriches the territorial significance of «Santiago is not Chile»: fostering relationships between scenes that typically progress from their own territories and generating new opportunities for circulation, exchange, and connection between artists and audiences.

Coordinates

Company: Interdisciplinary Collective Experiencia Humana (Valparaíso, Valparaíso Region)
Dates: Thursday, October 8, Friday, October 9, and Saturday, October 10, 2026
Showtime: 7:30 PM
Playwright and Director: Francisco Ruiz Yáñez
Cast: Katty López Soto, Martín Sánchez Maldonado, Sofía Lillo Miranda, Andrés Ulloa Radrigán, and Luis A. Órdenes Medina
Tickets: Pay-What-You-Can ($4,000 / $6,000 / $8,000)
Location: Teatro Sidarte, Ernesto Pinto Lagarrigue 131, Recoleta, Santiago.

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