Monday, July 21, 2008

What's on in Tenerife 21 - 27 Jul

To be, or not to be ...

... among the audience to see this new review of William Shakespeare's most famous play, HAMLET, directed by Juan Diego Botto (IMDB), at the Guimerá Theatre in Santa Cruz. There are two performances, on Friday, 25th July and Saturday, 26th July.

Naturally, it will be in Spanish, but either you know the play and will still be able to follow, even if you don't know the language, or, if you're like me and don't understand a word of Shakespeare even in English, then it will make no difference whatsoever and can be enjoyed on a purely aesthetic level. On the other hand, I could never understand the offside rule in football, until someone explained it to me in Spanish, so it may have the effect of adding clarity. :)

One Thousand and One Nights

In similar vein, on Saturday, 26th July and Sunday, 27th July, catch one of just two performances of Las Mil Noches y Una Noche (One Thousand and One Nights) at the Auditorio de Tenerife in Santa Cruz.

It's an adaptation of the legend of The Arabian Nights "under the attentive gaze" of Peruvian writer, Mario Vargas Llosa, who also plays the part of King Shahryar, alongside Aitana Sánchez-Gijón as Queen Scheherazade.

Fiesta de Santiago - Saint James Patron Saint of Spain

July 25th, which falls on Friday, is the day of Saint James, the Patron Saint of Spain. It is principally celebrated in Tenerife in Santa Cruz, Los Realejos, Puerto de Güímar and many cake shops, in the incarnation of the almond, Tarta de Santiago.

July 25th is also the Fiestas de Santiago Apóstol in Los Realejos, the annual fiestas honouring the town's co-patron and its foundation in 1496. And the Fiestas de Santa Ana in Candelaria, heralding the start of the annual Festival de Candelaria, which combines a major local song contest.

Also on July 25th, the Tenerife capital, Santa Cruz, celebrates the anniversary of its famous and proud victory over English Admiral, Horacio Nelson, whose failed attempt on Santa Cruz, on July 25th, 1797, cost him his right arm.
Santa Cruz Celebrates Victory Over The English

II Feria Insular Ovino Caprina (2nd Island Sheep and Goat Fair)

And, if none of the foregoing cultural events takes your fancy, well why not pop along to the Área Recreativa (Recreation Area) in La Laguna for the 2nd Island Sheep and Goat Fair on Sunday, 27th July. We reckon you're likely to find cute things like woolly sheep and hairy goats there.