Tulane University

Discover the absurdist theater of Artzénico the theater troupe originating from Quetzaltenango, Guatemala which explores themes of migration and national identity in the recent performance entitled, Irse Hacia el Norte/Going Northward performed at the Fall 2012 New Orleans Fringe Festival

This podcast explores the many issues brought out in the performance. Graduate student, Ryan Riedel follows the surreal feeling brought out in the play, not knowing where you are through live internet connections and also highlights the play’s search for both value and absurdity in national identity. Irse Hacia el Norte sends the play from north to south as a vehicle for the exchange of ideas, stories, food, and theatrical experiences. Irse was created by Artzénico, developed in collaboration with Armadillo (theater and puppet troupe from Xela, Guatemala) and Goat in the Road Productions (New Orleans, Louisiana). Artzénico visited New Orleans in the summer of 2011 and this past fall 2012. Their collaborative residency was sponsored in part by Tulane University’s Stone Center for Latin American Studies and the National Performance Network’s Performing Americas Program. During their residency they held interactive workshops within the community to further explore issues of migration. For more information on Artzénico, please visit their site.

Ryan Riedel (M.A. Candidate ’13) developed this podcast as part of the Latin American Resource Center’s Enlaces Américas podcast project.
Produced January 2013.