Jaime Tamariz leads theatre revolution in Ecuador

A gothic psychiatric hospital, hallucinations images projected on the walls, lights were lit and extinguished, troubled people walking from one side to the other restless and tense, that was the scene of the final technical rehearsal work presented in the Theatre Arts Center “One Flew over Cuckoo’s Nest,” by the Ecuadorian actor and director Jaime Tamariz.

We found Jaime, stressed and anxious, but willing to give us few minutes of his time to talk despite being a pre-hour premiere of his latest play that night.

After speaking a little with him, we learned the versatility of this professional theater director. Industrial Design, Social Communication, Graphic Design, Marketing and Business Administration are some of the careers that this local personality has undertaken.

On a trip to Spain, Jaime decided to study Film, but he never suspected to fall in love with the acting career, which took him five years at the Cristina Rota Academy in Madrid. In this institute, he had the opportunity to develop himself as an actor, director, dancer, illuminating, props, etc.., all the requirements for staging.

“I started sweeping and cleaning the dressing rooms (…). But that’s part of the show. For me it is important to make it understandable for people that doing a show is also to see that there is a pin at the stage where the dancer can get hurt and damage the function (…)”

Most of his acting career was exercised in Spain. “Every weekend over there I had a show for 5 years.” However, is in Ecuador where he has developed himself more as a theater director.

Tamariz returned home in 2008, but the following year, Jaime was premiering his first work as director called “The Lover” by Harold Pinter starring Alejandra Paredes, who also collaborated on his next works.

“(…) it was quite a experimental work. We began to invite friends and family. The performances were in a friend’s house located in Las Peñas. (…) We ended up doing thirteen features, all packed.”

After this first theatrical success, James returned to the stage in 2010 directing the Cat on the Roof, starring Roberto Manrique and Alejandra Paredes. This production was far more complex with a staging of 15 actors and their first in the Theater Arts Center Guayaquil.

After this first theatrical success, Jaime returned to the stage in 2010 directing “The Cat on the Roof,” starring Roberto Manrique and Alejandra Paredes. This production was far more complex with 15 actors in stage. That was his first work in Centro de Arte Theatre in Guayaquil.

Jaime used the construction of each character in the play to pick the suitable actors afterwards. He does not make massive castings, but according to the profile of the character he makes a list of possible candidates and selects them after watching their performance.

On his latest release, Jaime said the idea came while studying in Madrid. One of his roommates, proposed the idea to do this work. Afterwards he read the original novel by Ken Kesey and then saw the movie, played by Jack Nicholson.

Jaime projected the play as a fable, using elements of all three versions (book, movie and theatrical play). He adapted the work to the Ecuadorian culture, using the component of the Shuar culture, as in the original text, the story is narrated by an American Indian.

His next project will be Reservoir Dogs by Quentin Tarantino, and its premiere is expected in November, but has not yet the list of confirmed players.

Although, Jaime has never acted in one of his works, he does not rule out the possibility of doing it one day. He also has the idea to direct a musical.

“The work of interpretation is very intense. Acting is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. From everything I’ve studied acting requires much more work (…). It’s not something you say, I did not like it, and I quit- it is you who do not like yourself. It requires a strong commitment and to have things very clear in the head to grow. (…) A strong sense of self-criticism is needed.”

Soon, James hopes to start his own original work with his friend and partner, Denise Nader. But although no dates, both are very keen to undertake this project, his first unpublished. (BG)

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