Bambalinas:

A Digital Memory of Contemporary Street Theatre in Latin America.


Jorge Ivan Saldarriaga

Jorge Iván Saldarriaga is a director and scriptwriter of street theater and contemporary circus works for unconventional spaces (streets, parks, open-air theaters, and recreational centers, among others). His beginnings trace back to street theater plays at the IDEM Guadalupe School and the San Martín de Porres Parish in the Villa del Socorro neighborhood in Medellín, in the 1990s. In these plays, he served as an actor and artistic director of religious plays for Holy Week, which were presented in the streets of the neighborhood during the processions and events of the parish. Additionally, he was the director of the play “Romeo y Julieta Paisa”, a version that was proposed at the request of some members of the parish, with the purpose of integrating classical theater into the local culture. Since 2010, he has joined the Artistic and Cultural Corporation, where he has worked as an artistic director and collaborative scriptwriter of contemporary circus plays. Some of his works include: “Enteractive,” “El secreto de luna,” “Acrostomp,” “Gaia – La madre tierra,” and “Celebra la vida.” Jorge Iván participated in the adaptation of the play Tarkín, Comparsa Celebra la Vida, Comparsa Que Viva el Circo, and Comparsa Hadas, Duendes y Faunos. Also, he served as artistic advisor for the contemporary circus play Turya, among other street shows presented as Agendas de Ciudad for the Ministry of Culture of Medellín and some private entities. His work as a cultural manager has been of great importance for communes 2 and 6 of Medellín, since his love for and high achievement in contemporary circus in unconventional spaces and street theater have led him to be recognized and respected by the community. 

Interview