by
Carla Zúñiga
Translated by Fran Olivares
Transgressive, Poignant and Heartfelt
New Chilean Take on a Familiar Fairy Tale.
“I hate summer. The most mournful moments of my life have happened in summer. Being born, getting married, giving birth.”
A Princess named Diana wakes up one day in the tower of a castle, all covered in vomit, doped up and confused. She realises she is being held prisoner by her two maids for something terrible that happened the night before, but she can't remember what. With the help of her two children, she will try to escape before something worse happens.
Does Princess Diana bring her fate upon herself for breaking free from the royal norms and social expectations?
If that’s so, What was she supposed to be then?
A princess that sings with the birds?
Inspired by the image of Princess Diana of Wales, this macabre and absurd princess tale reflects on gender-based violence exercised against women throughout history and is a commentary on social limitations women have to confront on a daily basis to determine who they are and how they have to behave.
"The S.A.D. Summers Of Princess Diana’ is a project integrated by an all international, female cast and creative team, half of which are from a Latin-American background.
The play aims to engage with a wide range of audiences, including younger generations, Hispanic, Latinx and international theatre lovers and goers, different VAWG institutions, organisations, and victims/survivors of gender-based violence.
Fran Olivares
Translator and Director
Actor, playwright, teacher and recently exploring the role of director, Carla Zúñiga is one of the most powerful, sharp and particular voices on the contemporary Chilean theatre scene. Carla was invited by the British Council to join the second version of the Royal Court international programme held in Chile, received the award for Best Playwriting by the Critics’ Circle of Chile in 2018 for her play ‘Prefiero Que Me Coman Los Perros / I’d Rather Be Eaten By Dogs’ and has published 2 books with her plays. Her multiple sources of inspiration come from one of the most acclaimed Chilean playwrights, Juan Radrigán - who she assisted for many year - her peers, gender dissidents, feminism in conclusion to all human relationships and social roles of an heteronormed patriarchal system. With more than 20 plays premiered, she has forged a unique language, loaded with baroque, grotesque, black comedy and pop references.
“The S.A.D. Summers Of Princess Diana / Los Tristisimos Veranos De La Princess Diana '', would be Carla’s English language world debut.
Actor, playwright, teacher and recently exploring the role of director, Carla Zúñiga is one of the most powerful, sharp and particular voices on the contemporary Chilean theatre scene. Carla was invited by the British Council to join the second version of the Royal Court international programme held in Chile, received the award for Best Playwriting by the Critics’ Circle of Chile in 2018 for her play ‘Prefiero Que Me Coman Los Perros / I’d Rather Be Eaten By Dogs’ and has published 2 books with her plays. Her multiple sources of inspiration come from one of the most acclaimed Chilean playwrights, Juan Radrigán - who she assisted for many year - her peers, gender dissidents, feminism in conclusion to all human relationships and social roles of an heteronormed patriarchal system. With more than 20 plays premiered, she has forged a unique language, loaded with baroque, grotesque, black comedy and pop references.
“The S.A.D. Summers Of Princess Diana / Los Tristisimos Veranos De La Princess Diana '', would be Carla’s English language world debut.
