“Lucrècia”, by Joan Ramis i Ramis, in La Seca Espai Brossa
Considered the most important neoclassical work in Catalan literature, the play by the Minorcan author can be seen from the 3rd to the 20th of April
Written in 1769 by the illustrious Minorcan author Joan Ramis i Ramis, Lucrècia is a representative sample of what philologist Jordi Carbonnell calls the “Minorcan period of Catalan literature”, in other words, from the second half of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century.
The play is set in the year 509 B.C. During a break in the Roman siege of Ardea, Tarquinius, heir to the throne of Rome, and his commander-in-chief, Collatinus, speak about the fidelity of their partners while they are away at war. Tarquinius then approaches Lucrecia, wife of Collatinus, in order to test her fidelity and becomes infatuated with her. His attempts to seduce her, however, fail, and he rapes her. Lucrecia commits suicide and when the citizens of Rome hear of the tragedy they instigate a revolt that leads to the proclamation of the Republic.
Lucrècia plays an important cultural role in the history of Catalan literature due to the fact that Joan Ramis wrote the play at a time when the island of Minorca was under Franco-British rule and the remaining Catalan regions suffered the oppression of the Bourbon kings. The play represented a modest but significant literary development on the island.
Directed by Sergi Marí and starring Queralt Albinyana, Enka Alonso, Blai Llopis, Xavier Núñez, Josep Mercadal and Àlvar Triay, Lucrècia can be seen in La Seca Espai Brossa from the 3rd to the 20th of April.