La niña y la ballena
“Some memories are too deep to forget.”
Written by Itziar Pascual
Directed by Antígona González
March 29 to April 20, 2025
• Thursdays and Fridays at 7pm
• Saturdays and Sundays at 3 pm
In Spanish with English supertitles
Ages: 8+ ⚠️ Content Advisory
Tickets
– General Admission - $45
– Seniors and Students - $40
Weekends Family Discount:
– ‘Teatreros’ Ages 8 to 18 - $20
Location
IATI Theater
Mainstage Theater
64 E 4th St
NYC, NY 10003
ADA/Wheelchair Accessible
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Tickets
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About
A lone whale has returned in the harbor of Getaria on the Basque coast (Spain), carrying the ancestral memory of her species' persecution. La niña y la ballena (Neska eta Balea / The Girl and the Whale) is a lyrical and urgent reflection on what we have lost beneath the waves and what we might still be able to save.
Itxaso, a twelve-year-old girl with hearing loss, perceives the delicate balance between sound and silence that most people cannot. When local journalist Jokin investigates the whale's mysterious appearance, their paths converge to uncover a devastating truth: modern noise pollution has become a deadly assault on the sonic world of marine life. For decades, whale songs have been dismissed as interference. Still, Itxaso listens. With the help of hydrophones, this unlikely duo unveils an ancient message from the depths of the sea.
Weaving together Basque maritime history, the tragedy of ocean pollution, and the unexpected connection between a child and a whale, this powerful play poses a crucial question: If the ocean holds the memory of all our actions, do we have the courage to listen and the wisdom to change?
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La niña y la ballena is a thought-provoking exploration of our relationship with nature, presented through both a child's perspective and adult understanding.
This visually rich production addresses deep themes of sustainability and marine conservation through puppetry, storytelling, and impactful imagery. While incorporating moments of beauty and wonder, the show also unflinchingly depicts the reality of human impact on ocean life. -
We invite parents to bring young audiences to the show. We recommend carefully considering your children's readiness for this production. While featuring engaging puppetry and theatrical moments of joy, the show also includes brief but impactful documentary footage of whaling that some children may find disturbing.
This is not a traditional children's show, but rather an intergenerational experience that sparks important conversations between adults and older children about our environmental responsibilities. We recommend this show for adults, teenagers, and older children aged 8 and up.For families who wish to attend, we offer special "young teatreros" pricing.
⚠️ Content Advisory:
La niña y la ballena includes projected documentary footage that features historical scenes of whale hunting, whales washed ashore, and images from whale meat processing facilities. These visuals contain some graphic imagery, such as visible blood, and may be sensitive for certain viewers, including children. While these moments are brief, they hold emotional weight and serve both an educational purpose and a crucial role in supporting the emotional arc of the story. We understand that every child reacts differently to such material; therefore, we recommend that parents and guardians use their discretion when determining whether this content is suitable for their young ones.
Credits
Cast
Laura Riveros-Sefair, Balaenoptera
Braulio Basilio, Jokin
Valeria Avina, Rémora
Samantha Leon-Cruz, Itxaso
Production Team
Valeria Llaneza, Assistant Director & Stage Manager
Omayra Garriga Casiano, Scenic Design
Miguel Valderrama, Lighting Design
Marina España, Video & Multimedia Design
Greg Corbino, Puppet Design
Federica Borlenghi, Costume & Props Design
Diego Las Heras, Sound Design
Matías Ulibarry & Braulio Basilio, Production Managers
Alejandra Díaz-Pizarro, Translator
Creative Team
Antígona González Director
A seasoned Mexican performer, director, and producer. Her numerous collaborations with IATI Theater include winning "Best Director" at the 2023 Hola Awards for the critically acclaimed "Temporada de ciervos." Co-founder of "aguardiente," a community-focused art collective that utilizes field research and oral history in its projects. Co-creator of "Amarillo," "Baños Roma," and "Article 13" with Teatro Línea de Sombra. Her work includes collaborations with The Commons Choir, FABnyc, Superhero Clubhouse, Cie Carabosse (France), Downtown Art, and University Settlement.
Itziar Pascual Playwright
Itziar Pascual (Madrid, 1967) conceives dramatic writing as a boat for women and children to go first. She aims to use the theatrical world to bring together four elements of undoubted value: poetry, beauty, humor and justice. The contemporary treatment of myths and conventional methods were key elements in her initial works. But she has opted to raise awareness of those women whose contribution to culture has been ignored. Women such as Natalia Karp, Rosa Parks, Wangari Maathai, Rita Levi Montalcini, María Zambrano, Pina Bausch or Rosa Helena Lovo, among others, have been the inspiration for characters in her works.
Part of TEATRO FEST NYC 2025
A Citywide Extravaganza of Latin Drama, Dance, and Music
IATI Theater, as a member of the Alliance of Teatros Latinos NY, is part of Teatro Fest NYC 2025, a citywide festival of live drama, dance, music, and conversations with Latin artists. TeatroFest NYC 2025 will feature 20 productions and 210 performances in at least 9 Latin theater venues from March 1 to April 30, 2025. The festival includes never-before-seen world premiere productions of new works, celebrated revivals, and other exciting cultural offerings from NYC’s vibrant Latin community of artists and performers.
Alliance of Teatros Latinos NY
IATI Theater * INTAR Theatre * Pregones/PRTT * Repertorio Español * Teatro Círculo * Teatro LATEA * Teatro SEA * Thalia Spanish Theatre