The Elsinore Theater Festival

The Elsinore Theatre Festival has been held in Cuba every year for over 30 years. The staging of plays in theaters and open spaces, set design, dramatic texts, criticism and research related to the world of theater are part of the activities that take place during the festival. This is a showcase for young Cuban playwrights (there is an age limit of 35), and an opportunity for them to reach a wider public, to experiment with new works and to collaborate with old alumni from the University of the Arts (ISA).

Held in late March 2013, the Elsinor Fest received the support of the Drama Faculty of the University of the Arts (ISA) in coordination with the National Council for the Performing Arts, the Hermanos Saíz Association, the Set Design Study Center and the Tablas-Alarcos press.

The event seeks to publicize young Cuban theater, both from an artistic and investigative perspective. The age limit set by the organizers of the event for its participants is under 35 from the national and international theatrical scene. Although the festival’s home has always been ISA, this year it spread its wing beyond the university to different theaters in the capital. March 27 is International Theater Day, which coincided with the Elsinor Festival. The event was celebrated with a virtual meeting between present-day ISA students and alumni who live in other parts of the globe through the festival’s website.

Elsinore is an example of young theatrical endeavor, an opportunity to showcase Cuban and international theater.


  • Harley Davidson Varadero Rally, 2012

    Harley Davidson Varadero Rally, 2012  LH 5

    Part of Cuba’s attraction undeniably is its pre-1960s vintage from the classic American cars through Tropicana and Buena Vista Social Club to simply the feel and look of the place. That it also harbor …

    The Rotilla Festival in Jibacoa

    The Rotilla Festival in Jibacoa  LH 5

    Founded in 1998, the Rotilla Festival started as a rave between friends and grew over the years to become Cuba’s largest annual concert (attracting over 20,000 people in 2010). While it started out li …

    The Lucas Music Video Awards

    The Lucas Music Video Awards  LH 5

    Lucas, the Cuban TV show dedicated entirely to national music videos, will have been on the air for 16 years in 2013. Passionately championed by some and flatly rejected by others, almost no one remai …

    Carnaval de Santiago de Cuba

    Carnaval de Santiago de Cuba  LH 5

    The origins of the Santiago Carnival go back to the end of the seventeenth century when processions would wind their way through the city streets celebrating the day of the patron Saint Santiago. Duri …

    January 1, 1959: Triumph of the Cuban Revolution

    January 1, 1959: Triumph of the Cuban Revolution  LH 5

    New Year’s Day has a special meaning in Cuba since it was on this first day of 1959, Cuba was shaken by a much-awaited news—Fulgencio Batista, who had seized power through a military coup on March 10, …

    Havana’s Harlistas get on the road

    Havana’s Harlistas get on the road  LH 5

    2nd Harley Davidson Havana to Varadero International Rally (Feb 8-11, 2013) Cuba’s second ‘international’ Harley Davidson Rally (Encuentro Harlista!) took place from Feb 8-11, 2013. This was bigger an …

    Cine Pobre: Cuba’s hippest & retro film festival is back

    Cine Pobre: Cuba’s hippest & retro film festival is back  LH 5

    After a two-year break, Cuba’s ‘poor man’s’ film festival is back. Founded by Cuban filmmaker Humberto Solas, the festival is traditionally held in the sleepy fishing village of Gibrara that wakes up …

    July 26, 1953: Attack on Moncada Barracks

    July 26, 1953: Attack on Moncada Barracks  LH 5

    On July 26, 1953 a group of young men and two women led by Fidel Castro attacked the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba while another group attacked the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Barracks in the cit …

    International Workers’ Day

    International Workers’ Day  LH 5

    Hundreds of thousands of Cubans filed through Havana’s Revolution Square on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 in a May Day parade that paid tribute to Hugo Chávez, the Venezuelan leader…A sea of workers, many we …

    Paco De Lucía at the 2013 Leo Brouwer Chamber Music Festival

    Paco De Lucía at the 2013 Leo Brouwer Chamber Music Festival  LH 5

    We cannot thank Leo Brower enough for his contribution to Cuban culture. Not only for his work—possibly the most extensive and solid of all time of any Cuban composer—but also for the time he has devo …

    1 of 8 pages »