On Friday 16th February, during an exciting end to the Spring half term, Sixth Form students studying Spanish embarked on a trip to watch Federico García Lorca's La Casa de Bernarda Alba at the renowned Cervantes Theatre in London.

The play portrays the suffocating atmosphere within a Spanish household ruled by Bernarda Alba, a tyrannical matriarch. Set in rural Andalusia, the play explores themes of repression, societal expectations, and the consequences of unchecked desires. The all-female cast reflects the confinement of women in a patriarchal society, leading to jealousy, betrayal and tragedy as tensions escalate among Bernarda's daughters vying for freedom and love.

Señora Plaza (Spanish Teacher) added: “La Casa de Bernarda Alba is significant for Spanish IB and A-level students due to its rich thematic depth and literary complexity. It offers profound insights into Spanish society, culture, and traditions, making it a valuable text for students to analyse and interpret. The play addresses universal themes such as oppression, desire, and societal norms, allowing students to explore these concepts within a Spanish context while sharpening their language skills and critical thinking abilities. For A-level students it is part of their essay writing and for IB students it is part of their speaking.”

Izzy Jackson (Upper Sixth) said: “The Spanish Trip to Las Cervantes Theatre was both entertaining and enriching for our understanding of the novel La Casa De Bernada Alba by Federico García Lorca. The play gave an interesting interpretation of the text, and the visuals helped me pinpoint the key scenes that I may have to talk about in my Spanish Oral exam. I enjoyed the trip to London, and the acting was great, so overall a fantastic trip. Many thanks to all the teachers who helped organise this opportunity.”