While the word canícula may roll easily off the tongue, in Honduras it can mean dry, thirsty mouths. In this Central American country, canícula refers to periods of extreme heat, with no rain. In 2009, however, canícula took on a more positive meaning when Teatro Taller Tegucigalpa—in collaboration with ONE DROP and Quebec theatre companies Théâtre de l’Aubergine and Théâtre Parminou—developed ¡Canícula!, a multidiscipline show that toured towns where ONE DROP was at work. Seen by 17,200 Hondurans, ¡Canícula! is the tale of four animal characters and their quest for water during a time of drought. The story’s characters learn about pesticides and pollution as they meet animals and humans coping with the lack of water.
On April 15, 2010, ¡Canícula! was performed for representatives of international aid organizations and the media in the capital city of Tegucigalpa as part of a gala evening highlighting ONE DROP’s social arts and popular education initiatives. Later this year, ONE DROP and the creators of ¡Canícula! will unveil a new stage production that will tour Honduras, entertaining people and raising communities’ awareness about the importance of water in our lives.
Learn more about the Access to Safe Water for the Communities of the Dry Tropics of Honduras project.
Published on June 7, 2010