María Rodríguez Alonso has been honoured with the first prize at the XXIX National Theatre Competition for Female Directors in Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain, for her direction of 'Claramonte a partir de La estrella de Sevilla'. The announcement was made during the closing gala held on 24 October, which also featured the performance 'Errantes', directed by Laura Ferrer.
Inés Collado and Irene Doher secured the second prize for their work 'Ya no queda nada de todo esto', while Ana Maestrojuán received the third prize and the Special José María Rodero Award for her production 'Una mera curiosidad', achieving dual recognition.
The competition, which celebrates the talent of women in the performing arts, concluded its current edition with a gala that highlighted a diverse range of theatrical proposals. Rodríguez Alonso's first prize, worth €4,500, was awarded for her exceptional direction of 'Claramonte a partir de La estrella de Sevilla'. The second prize, valued at €3,200, was awarded to Collado and Doher, while Maestrojuán received €1,600 for her third-place entry.
The event was attended by María Eugenia Gil, the councillor for Equality and Festivities, Valeriano Díaz, the head of the Theatre, and Carlos Rodríguez Alonso, the managing director of the Association of Theatre Directors of Spain (ADE).
The gala also included the performance 'Errantes', which engaged the audience actively, inviting them to participate as characters in the story. This innovative approach added a fresh and dynamic element to the event, marking a successful conclusion to this unique competition in Spain, designed to provide visibility and recognition for women in theatrical direction.
The competition showcased three productions from 16 to 18 October. 'Una mera curiosidad', directed by Ana Maestrojuán, opened the series on 16 October, followed by Rodríguez Alonso's 'Claramonte a partir de La estrella de Sevilla' on 17 October, and 'Ya no queda nada de todo esto' on 18 October.
Finalist companies also received €3,100 per performance to support their participation in the competition. Beyond the contest, the theatre directed by women continues with additional performances, including 'Burladas' by Laura Santos on 23 October and 'Entre bobos anda el juego', directed by Eva del Palacio on 25 October. The programme will extend until 29 October, featuring 'Yo nací en un surco de judías', also by Laura Santos, at 19:00 hours.
