Educating emotions through theatre
in a short time, The invisible thread of Miriam Tirado i The colorful monster ofAnna Llenas have become two phenomena of contemporary children’s literature. His stories, read all over the world by families and teachers, have jumped onto the stage turned into shows that claim the theater as a place to feel, grow and put words to what is difficult to express: emotions.
When Míriam Tirado’s daughter was three years old, she asked what the navel was for. It was born from that conversation The invisible thread (2020), a story that has sold more than 200,000 copies and talks about the ties that bind us to the people we love, even when we are not physically there. “Children understand better through stories, because they see things that resonate within them,” explains Tirado, journalist and conscious parenting consultant.
The play has become a successful family musical directed by Alicia Serratwith drama and music by Victor Arbelo i Daniel Englishand a cast headed by Beth Rodergas in Barcelona and Nerea Rodríguez in Madrid After a successful first season at the Teatre Goya, the show returns from December 22.
Before that The invisible thread united navels, another character had given color to the emotions. The colorful monster (2012), created by Anna Llenas, is one of the most translated children’s albums in Catalan, with more than 3 million copies sold. His message is simple and universal: every emotion has a color and learning to identify them helps us live better.
The story has also been adapted into a puppet and music show, designed for children aged three and over, which can be seen until January 25 at the Teatre Condal. On stage, a monster travels through a chromatic universe where emotions can be seen, heard and touched. The adaptation maintains the original spirit: helping the little ones to recognize what they feel and the adults to accompany them. “It’s a simple but revolutionary story”, said Llenas, “because it gives voice to what was previously hidden: emotions are part of who we are, not a problem to be solved”.
so much The invisible thread com The colorful monster they are part of a new generation of family shows that combine art and pedagogy. His success lies not only in the scenic quality, but in the ability to speak naturally of feelings. In the audience, children and adults recognize each other. And perhaps this is where its strength lies: to remind us that, at any age, we all need to color what we feel and hold on to some invisible thread when everything seems to be moving.
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