Blood Wedding

A revised Student Edition of Lorca's 1931 play Bodas de Sangre, in the translation by Gwynne Edwards and with commentary and notes by Ben De Witte.

One of Federico García Lorca's most well-known works for the stage, this play about doomed passion brings to life a small-town incident in rural Spain with a tragic vision and poetic sensibility that still draws audiences to the play today.

The commentary explores the play's place within the progressive political climate of the Second Spanish Republic (1931-1939) and how it reveals Lorca's sympathies for social reform. It also delves into Lorca's decision to make this a contemporary tragedy and how this signalled a new direction in his vision for theatre.

Also included is an exploration of the play's use of metaphorical language and stagecraft, how it maps onto the structure of ancient tragedy, its production history, and ideas for further exploration.