Postigo, Alejandro ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7922-8953 Copla, a Spanish Cabaret: intercultural adaptation, queer migrant testimony, and the revival of a silenced form. Journal of Creative Arts and Social Enterprise (JCASE). ISSN 3121-9217 (In Press)

PDF/A PostigoA_COPLA, A SPANISH CABARET_AM_PDFA.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (403kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Copla: A Spanish Cabaret reimagines traditional Spanish music through a queer, migrant lens, introducing the historically censored genre to UK audiences in English for the first time. Originally suppressed under Franco's dictatorship (1939–75) and later reclaimed by Spanish drag artists as subversive expression, Copla exemplifies cultural resilience at the margins. This solo performance bridges linguistic and cultural divides while interrogating challenges faced by migrant performers in Anglo-centric theatre landscapes.
Developed through practice-research informed by PhD studies in Intercultural Adaptation of Copla, the work combines live music, personal storytelling, and audience engagement to explore bilingualism, hybrid identities, and mid-level theatre production. As an English as Additional Language (EAL) artist, Postigo navigates performing across linguistic boundaries where translation becomes artistic and cultural negotiation. Reflecting on the 2025 run at The Other Palace and public engagement with UK organisations, this paper examines how multilingual performers transform perceived limitations into artistic agency, challenging industry frameworks that sideline LGBTQ+ migrant voices.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Paper presented in Festival of Arts and Discourse, Centre for Socially Engaged Theatre (C‑SET) in September 25-27, 2025.
Subjects:	Music > Music performance
Date Deposited:	15 Apr 2026
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/14875

Actions (admin access)