When I started working on the project Ay Carmela, I didn’t realize how deep this play would get into me. It was a journey that took me to reflect about my heritage, about the historical traumas that we carry with us, and also how things were in another time, when war was around the world and people had enough trying to survive.
It was also a play that allowed me to make amazing connections, like the one with Mark Derby, kiwi author of the books Kiwi Companeros and Petals&Bullets about the New Zealanders that volunteered in Spain against the fascists’ during the Spanish Civil War.
It also made connect New Zealand with my culture, through the beautiful collaboration with Ian Sinclair, and his flamenco guitar passion.
Talking about my country and about the history of my ancestors, and bringing my culture and my language here, to the other side of the world, gave me a purpose that I still carry with pride, bringing to life stories that need to be told.
Here is the interview that we had, Adriana and I, for the program Voices (Radio NZ)
In the same way, it was a great experience to get in connect with the author of the play, Jose Sanchis Sinisterra, and getting his blessing to bring his work to the other side of the planet. Literally, this play has gone as far as it was physically possible on this planet, and the message reached, as universal as it is.
Daniel Fernandez Actor 