Piarres Larzabal’s First Dramatic Plays: Etxahun (1951), Bordaxuri (1952). Basque culture as a foundation

Abstract

In the 1950s Piarres Larzabal opened a new path in the theatre of Northern Basque Country. Combining classical French theatre and Basque tradition, he wrote works in Basque, based on culture and history. Larzabal’s theatre has two main roots: on the one hand, the influence of French authors such as Molière and Racine; on the other hand, the popular Basque culture, based on toberak, bertsolaritza and pastorals; his works combine comedy and drama, always with the intention of reflecting Basque society and values. This article examines the plays of Etxahun and Bordaxuri, works that were based on historical Basque characters and ancient verses of the nineteenth century, but which he adapted with great freedom, in the service of drama and passion. Conflicts between father and son, entrenched love, and social tension appear in these works, within a tragic mechanics. As a playwright, these plays show that Larzabal mastered the classical codes of dramatic art (the law of units, the structure of action...) perfectly, creating characters that are not at all vague: they are men and women of great strength, plunged into the midst of conflicts with all the tragedy of life.