The complaint that the Madrid Provincial Prosecutor's Office has filed this week against the playwright and director Ramón Paso for sexual crimes against several young women between 18 and 25 years old has caused a seismic movement in the Spanish theater sector. The first reaction was that of the actor Pepe Viyuela, who a few minutes after the news broke to the press early this Wednesday, announced his decision to leave the cast of
Jardiel in love
, the play in which he plays the writer Enrique Jardiel Poncela, premiered just a week ago at the Infanta Isabel theater in Madrid, with original text and direction by Paso. Viyuela's withdrawal first led to the suspension of this Wednesday's performance and hours later to the definitive cancellation of the production. “I was shocked. I am nervous. I do not think in another thing. I am shocked,” the actor explained to Europa Press after hearing the news, while ensuring that he had not spoken with the playwright. “I don't want to call him. I don't want to continue with the show. I'm leaving,” he stressed, later clarifying that Paso is not his friend. The interpreter assured that he understands “the presumption of innocence, but there is something too strong in the subject,” remembering that it is about “14 women.”
Jardiel Enamorado
is a production by Ramón Paso himself through his company PasoAzorín in association with the well-known film producer Andrés Vicente Gómez through his company Lola Teatro. After Viyuela's departure, the interpreter met this afternoon with the programming department of the Infanta Isabel, with members of Lola Teatro and with the actors Sergio Otegui and Rafa Ramos, who are also part of the cast, after which the team has issued a statement in which it announced the definitive cancellation of production. In the note, the signatories claim that they were completely unaware of the facts and claim to be “absolutely surprised and dismayed” since they found out through the media. “Always respectful of the principle of presumption of innocence, we stand in solidarity with the victims, assuming the responsibility that we have as exhibitors, producers, interpreters and cultural workers to contribute in this way to raise awareness and stop this scourge, as well as create a space safe in the theater”, reads the writing. Furthermore, they emphasize that "the events do not concern this production, nor of course have they occurred at any time during the production process or in the theater."
According to the testimonies of the victims collected by the Prosecutor's Office, the events took place between 2018 and 2023 in auditions to which they appeared to participate in different productions. On April 10, after concluding the investigation proceedings, the prosecutor's office gradually accused alleged crimes of sexual assault - some of a continuous nature -, harassment, harassment, coercion and against moral integrity. Contacted by EL PAÍS, Ramón Paso has declined to make statements for the moment and sources close to him explain that he is analyzing the situation with his advisors.
The cast also includes three actresses, Ángela Peirat, Inés Kerzan, Ana Azorín. The latter is also a founding partner of the Paso Azorín company along with the playwright himself, whose representation agency has assured that the performer "always works with him" and that in all these years there has been "an extraordinary relationship without any problems."
Ramón Paso, grandson of Alfonso Paso and great-grandson of Enrique Jardiel Poncela, both also playwrights, recreates in
Jardiel in love
the life of his great-grandfather since he met in 1926 the one he defined as the love of his life, Josefina Peñalver, while she was married and with whom he had a daughter, until his death in 1952, alone and ruined. Paso has a long career as an author and director in Spanish commercial theater, mainly comedies, with titles such as
You have eyes of a femme fatale... on the radio
, a version of a piece by his great-grandfather;
The reunion,
own text directed by Gabriel Olivares; or
The importance of being Earnest,
version of the work of the same name by Oscar Wilde. He has also worked as a television scriptwriter, such as the adaptations of the plays
The inhabitants of the uninhabited house,
also by Jardiel Poncela, or
El Crédito,
by Jordi Galcerán.
Other reactions
Throughout the day there have been other reactions both within the theater sector and in the cultural field in general. The League of Professional Women in Theater sent a message this morning to its members to show their support for the victims and invite them to report sexual abuse within the profession. “We want to encourage you to contact us if you have suffered or witnessed similar abuse and we can help you from our association in any way possible,” the note reads.
In conversation with EL PAÍS, Beatriz Velilla, president of this organization, emphasizes that complaints like this are very important because they show that it is possible to report and can encourage other victims to do so. “They give hope. For example, shortly after sending our message to members we received information about another possible case.” However, Ella Velilla recognizes that it is very difficult to go to court: “We can advise, but little else. Recently we have received another case that affects three women, but we cannot make it visible because not all of them dare to report it.” Regarding the incidence of sexual abuse in the Spanish theater world, Ella Velilla considers that it is a particularly vulnerable profession due to the precariousness suffered by professionals. “If you depend on them calling you or not calling you, logically you are not going to get into trouble. And let's not say if we talk about the world of teaching, where a power relationship is established that gives rise to abuse,” she points out.
The General Society of Authors and Editors (SGAE) has also spoken out and demanded that Spanish public and private institutions in the field of culture adopt “exemplary measures” to prevent situations of sexist violence. The SGAE considers it “essential” for coexistence in equality and for freedom of creation that women be “supported not only by creators, but also by the organizations that must ensure the total eradication of abuses of power, generally male , in the work environment.”
In this sense, the SGAE ensures that “inaction and indifference only perpetuate patriarchy in creation” and lead to “collusion” with violence and sexual abuse towards female creators. A message similar to that of the Union of Actors and Actresses, which demands “zero tolerance” with cases of sexual violence. “We encourage any actress who suffers violence or harassment to come forward. Although we know that it is not always easy to take the first step, we encourage you to take it with whoever you consider: acquaintances, family, coworkers... Silence is the first obstacle and it must be broken to begin to implement measures," a spokesperson for that union has concluded.
Telephone 016 assists victims of sexist violence, their families and those around them 24 hours a day, every day of the year, in 53 different languages. The number is not registered on the telephone bill, but the call must be deleted from the device. You can also contact them by email
at 016-online@igualdad.gob.es
and by WhatsApp at the number 600 000 016. Minors can contact the ANAR Foundation by calling 900 20 20 10. If it is an emergency situation, You can call 112 or the National Police (091) and Civil Guard (062) telephone numbers. And if you cannot call, you can use the ALERTCOPS application, from which an alert signal is sent to the Police with geolocation.