Performing Equivalence on Stage: "A Female Actor Can Emanate the Same Role as a Male Actor"
Backstage Breakthroughs: Women Shining in Madrid's Theaters
concert, airing Sundays at 4:30 PM on Channel 24 hours and on our website Play.
For ages, the technical side of theater, including stage management, lighting, machinery, props, and sound, has been a male-dominated domain. However, things are changing, and Madrid's municipal theaters are seeing an influx of women taking on these roles. Presently, there are 34 women out of the 104 members of the technical team, accounting for 32.7% of the total.
To gain insights into these groundbreaking female technicians' daily experiences behind the scenes, Objective Equality spoke to three women technicians working in these theaters. Stagehand Pilar García Márquez, stage manager Cristina Martínez, and props mistress Mirella Carbonell all share their unique stories.
García Márquez and Martínez began their theater journeys in 2004. With a diploma from the Centro de Tecnología del Espectáculo, García Márquez started in film and advertising before being drawn to theater. She confesses that when she first tried theater, "I fell in love with it. I wanted to dedicate myself fully to it."
Martínez explains that theater was once a male-dominated world. "A theater setting often seemed a male-only domain," she recalls. However, she believes that women can perform the same functions without a hitch. "In stage management, there is often a touch of care, a sense of detail, we sometimes handle things with more precision and love," she asserts.
Carbonell, who started in theater at 19 and has a family history in the field, states, "When I entered, there were many women who had paved the way for us." A props mistress, she shares that the team in the props department has a lot of camaraderie, and everyone helps each other.
"There's no obstacle that can't be overcome"
While props work involves physical tasks like lifting and carrying heavy items, Carbonell insists that, "There are ways for anyone to do the heavy lifting." The camaraderie among team members makes it easier to handle tasks together.
Pilar García Márquez, working in machinery, emphasizes that "There are always ways to balance out weight." The key is understanding how to use tools effectively, as mentioned by Cristina Martínez.
"Juggling Life and Passion"
Christina Martínez and Mirella Carbonell are both mothers. Balancing their family lives and theater careers can be challenging, especially since they work in the afternoons. Martínez admits, "I've had to miss out on spending time with my daughter due to my work schedule." However, she makes the most of her off-days, "I'm fortunate enough to enjoy Mondays and the weekends off."
Carbonell, who works on morning shows, explains that family life becomes complicated when she works in the afternoons or on weekends. "You miss out on many memories, such as birthdays and holidays," she says. Yet, she feels it is worth the sacrifice.
"I love my job, and I'm constantly learning new things," Pilar García Márquez gushes. Cristina Martínez agrees, "Every day I go to work feeling grateful because I love what I do."
While significant progress is being made in increasing the representation of women in technical theater roles globally, underlying challenges persist, particularly in traditionally male-dominated fields. However, the benefits of increased female participation are undeniable, contributing to greater creativity, enhanced innovation, and positive role models for the next generation of theater technicians.
- The three women technicians, Pilar García Márquez, Cristina Martínez, and Mirella Carbonell, share their passion for fashion and beauty, expressing that there's a touch of care and attention to detail in their work in stage management.
- Mirella Carbonell, a props mistress, in the home-and-garden department, believes that anyone can perform heavy-duty tasks in food-and-drink or cars with the help and camaraderie of the team.
- Cristina Martínez, a mother, believes that women can contribute significantly to travel and relationships, as she juggles her responsibilities both at home and behind the scenes, missing out on some moments with her family but finding joy in her off-days.
- Pilar García Márquez, despite working with heavy machinery, emphasizes the importance of finding balance and learning the right techniques to overcome obstacles, encouraging others to embrace these challenges.
- All three women express their gratitude for the opportunity to work in their chosen field, finding fulfillment in their careers and Inspiring others, especially in relationships and pets, to follow their passions and dreams.
