After Uruguay’s coup d'état in 1976, Blas Braidot and Raquel Seoane, members of the renowned theater troupe El Galpón, fled their country and exiled in Mexico.
Since El Galpón was globally famous for being one of Latin America’s most important independent theater movements, Blas and Raquel created the Independent Theatrical Institute Contigo América in 1981 along with Mario Ficacci and Luisa Huertas. Without a permanent venue, they wandered across the city until 1994, when they settled in what was once a body shop and is still their current location.
This forum has two rooms: Contigo América with a 75 people capacity, and Sala Blas Braidot, for an audience of 35. These spaces feature plays from the aforementioned institution and third-party performances focused on children’s theater, dance and music, always keeping it indie.
No matter what type of show it is, they want the audience not only to have fun but to think about their environment through performances.
The forum’s company has three plays in their repertoire, all of them on short runs throughout the year: Pueblo negro, Identidades and Los satisfechos.
Their library “Raquel Seoane” specializes in independent theater and performing arts and it’s fostered by donations. Moreover, some of these independent theater collectives offer performing arts workshops in the premises.