ABSTRACT
The major avant-garde movements that transformed European theatrical aesthetics had little impact on early twentieth-century Spain and Portugal. One must acknowledge the scenography of Latin America's multifaceted cultural traditions, commonly identified as folkloric expression. These include para-theatrical festivities, which were rooted in the complex system of religious syncretism among the various countries and based on native-born and immigrant popular traditions, exerting significant influences on the aesthetics of our modern theatre. A similar approach echoed throughout all of Latin America, challenging the colonial heritage while incorporating and transforming local traditions. The 1950s represented a period of consolidation for modern staging in several Latin American countries, which gradually began to act more vigorously in the search for their own cultural identities. The Cuban Revolution of 1959 was a crucial political factor in fomenting this change. Despite the stifling of popular culture by the military dictatorships, scenographic innovation provided strategies of political liberation.
