Norman D. Shergold

JUAN DE LA CUEVA AND THE EARLY THEATRES OF SEVILLE

The comedies and tragedies of Juan de la Cueva were acted in Seville between 1579 and 1581. In the printed edition of his works each play is accompanied by a contemporary note giving the name of the theatre in which it was performed and the name of the actor-manager who presented it. Eleven plays were produced in the Corral, or Huerta, de dona Elvira, two in the Corral de las Atarazanas, and one in the Corral de don Juan. It seems likely from this that Cueva wrote his plays with the stage of these specific theatres in mind. He gives few stage-directions, but the general appearance of this stage may be reconstructed from references in the dialogue to its physical characteristics. There are also various indications concerning the costumes and properties which the actors had at their disposal.