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Daria Efimova
The Rey Juan Carlos University has always stood out not only for its studies, but also for its cultural initiatives. Its university Choir and Symphony Orchestra have achieved important recognition, performing at the National Auditorium last April. Among these activities is the URJC ArrojoScénico Theater Group, made up of University students, who carry out performances, workshops and audiovisual works.
After the triumph of their webseries “Friends, relatives and other strangers”, the group has launched a new project: “I, never”, an anthology series of short chapters with independent plots.
This initiative has also been a success, achieving two prizes in the III Contest of the Spanish Federation of University Theatre. “Yo, Nunca” has been awarded in the categories: “Best Interaction” for its introductory chapter; and “Best Nanotheatre Piece” for its episode “Harassment in the elevator”, created for International Women's Day.
All the episodes of the webseries are available at the YouTube channel ArrojoScenico, as well as in the URJC Culture Instagram.
A webseries with original format
“I, never” was born at the hands of Víctor Mendoza Martínez, coordinator of the URJC theater group ArrojoScénico, and 20 student members of this group. The idea is based around the phrase "I would never do that", exploring in each chapter what would happen if that "something" were to happen.
What started as a theatrical staging has suddenly become an audiovisual project. “We created episodes of a minute or less that followed several plots. Some occupied more chapters, others less, but the core of the stories remained the same”, explains Víctor Mendoza. Some narratives were devised with a specific purpose, such as the chapter “Harassment in the elevator”, carried out on International Women's Day. “It was something handmade, more improvised and very fun”, continues Víctor.
When the III Contest of the Spanish Federation of University Theater was announced, ArrojoScénico decided to participate almost immediately. The URJC is one of the founding members of this organization, therefore having a very close relationship with it. In addition, due to the pandemic, many face-to-face activities that were going to be carried out were left pending. "We did podcast from our homes and it has had quite a repercussion”, says Víctor Mendoza, “and from this situation the Quarantine Theater contest was born, of which we are already going for the second edition”. Last year, ArrojoScénico also won two awards, one in the Nanotheatre category, the same as this year; and another, in Microtheatre format, with pieces lasting less than five minutes. Therefore, they have tried to repeat the success this year and have succeeded.
Beyond winning prizes in this type of contest, Víctor Mendoza stresses the importance of participating in them. “If you have determination and talent, try it, and keep trying, even if it seems that it will not work out. With enough work and dedication, you can always get ahead.”