SYNOPSIS:
As the Spanish Civil War ends, sisters Eva and Anabel are forced to flee their home, seeking refuge in France.
They arrive at the Magnac-Laval refugee camp, a place of desperation and uncertainty, just as World War II begins to unfold. Surrounded by exiled Spaniards and haunted by the trauma of war, they struggle to hold onto their identities and dreams.
Determined to survive and to make sense of their world, they turn to storytelling and dance, creating theatre in the camp as a means of resilience, defiance, and connection.
As conditions in the camp deteriorate and Nazi forces gain power, the sisters witness the horrifying reality of Spanish refugees being captured and sent to the notorious Mauthausen concentration camp, which housed Jews and Spaniards that both perished there.
Inspired by historical events that have only recently been brought to light by Spanish historians and Holocaust scholars, 1939 resurrects a purposely buried part of Spanish history. Exploring themes of identity, denial, ego, and the transformative power of art, 1939 is ultimately a love letter to the theatre and a testament to the power of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable darkness.
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT:
Caroline Sánchez-Avakian is a social justice and international development professional whose work is deeply influenced by themes of displacement, identity, and resilience. She holds a Bachelors in Communications, a Master of Arts in Theatre/Acting, and was trained at The New Actors Workshop in NYC - a full-time, two-year conservatory where she studied under theatre luminaries Mike Nichols, George Morrison, and Paul Sills.
With over 20 years of experience as an international development and refugee aid executive, she has worked with organizations such as the United Nations, UNHCR, FilmAid International, and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), focusing on humanitarian efforts in East Africa, India, and Central America. As a theatre artist, she has taught acting and scriptwriting workshops to refugee youth in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, using the power of storytelling to uplift and empower displaced communities.
Inspired by her grandmother’s journey as a refugee fleeing Spain after the Spanish Civil War and World War II, 1939 brings to light the untold stories of Spanish exiles and their struggle for survival. Through her work, she seeks to honor the resilience of those forced to flee, using theatre as a means to bear witness, preserve history, and celebrate the enduring power of the human spirit.