June 2023
Among the offerings at the Camden Fringe this year is the English premiere of “CONVICTED FLOWER”, a powerful drama inspired by the character of Roberta in the Puerto Rican play “Flor de Presidio” by Juan González-Bonilla. Playing at the Etcetera Theatre from 25th -27th August, the show explores the story of an extraordinary woman convicted of her husband’s murder and positions the audience as members of the jury. Puerto Rican actress Joan Villafañe stars and here, she discusses the important origins and messages of “CONVICTED FLOWER”, along with reflections on her time in the industry and hopes for the future.
Let’s start at the start: tell me a little bit about CONVICTED FLOWER.
Convicted Flower is a one-woman show about Roberta Rodríguez, a mother, housewife and exemplary woman who got convicted of murdering her husband with her bare hands after recurrent domestic violence. We meet different characters along the way such as her defence lawyer, her husband and the prosecutor. The audience is part of her appeal trial and gets to decide if she is guilty or innocent.
And what are the origins and influences here; how did this production come about?
This show came straight from Puerto Rico. The character of Roberta is from a Puerto Rican theatre play called Flor de Presidio by Juan González Bonilla. I did a month of showings of a 15-minute monologue of Roberta in Teatro en 15: a micro-theatre initiative in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. The piece won “Best Show of the Month” and now we decided to extend and develop it a bit more.
We also wanted to tell the story from different angles, so we devised new characters to let the audience experience Roberta’s whole journey on her appeal. We got inspired by this character and decided to make the audience decide her destiny. Should she stay in jail? Does she deserve to be free? We invite the audience to reflect on such a delicate subject that most people don’t address: domestic abuse. It is a recurring problem that affects people and needs to stop.
That’s quite a journey for this piece already then. What would you say is the most important thing you want people to know about CONVICTED FLOWER and its intentions?
The most important thing I want everyone to know about CONVICTED FLOWER is that it is a raw show. I want the audience to become aware of the alarming rates of domestic violence in the UK and the world. I want the audience to take Roberta’s story as an example because every victim has their own story, but we are here to make the audience aware of the events occurring behind closed doors that people usually don’t talk about. Our goal is to inspire and empower women to seek help, even though the process isn’t easy. We also aim to empower our audience in general, as this issue affects people of all genders. We are here “to hold as ’twere the mirror up to nature”, as Hamlet says, and inspire people to take action against this horrible issue.
As for the future of the show, I intend on taking it on tour at different Fringe festivals around the UK to make people aware of it and finally take it to the Edinburgh Fringe.
And tell me a little about the dynamics at work between your central characters – what are the driving forces?
This play is a powerful display of courtroom drama, with a constant battle between the defence and the prosecutor. However, the real focus is on Roberta, a woman who has suffered from domestic abuse. We witness her journey firsthand, and it’s a compelling story. I’ll be playing all the characters in the play, which is a significant challenge, but I’m prepared and excited for it.
What can you tell me about your cast and creative team?
The standout aspect of this show is undoubtedly the talented team behind it. Collaborating with the brilliant Puerto Rican director Frances Arroyo-López, with whom I have worked for over a decade, has been a pleasure. We have shared the stage and worked behind the scenes on various projects in professional theatres across Puerto Rico, Boston, and now London. Frances is an experienced acting professor and director at the University of Sagrado Corazón in Santurce, Puerto Rico, and we are excited about the future projects we have planned. Our team also includes the amazing music composer Daniel Toney, who is responsible for creating the soundscapes and soundtrack of the play. We are constantly creating new things to keep ourselves active and busy in the theatre industry, so expect to see more from us soon.
Glad to hear it!
Okay, Quick Fire time. Your route into the arts?
It is a funny one. I remember my mum asking me this question whilst I was filling up my admission papers for uni. She asked me: “Are you sure you want to study Chemistry?” I said: “I’d rather do Drama.” It was the best decision I ever made in my entire life.
I had a memorable debut in theatre with a three-page monologue playing the character of Il Dottore from Commedia dell’ Arte. This character required a massive body suit and involved grandly opening the theatre door. I enjoyed the experience so much that I still hold a special place for that character and would love to play it again. Later, I joined the University of Puerto Rico Travelling Theatre as part of my BA curriculum. Afterwards, I pursued my MFA in Acting from East 15 Acting School. Since then, I have worked professionally in productions in various places, including Puerto Rico, Edinburgh, Spain, and London.
Dream role or venue to play?
My dream venue to play would be the National Theatre in London. I want to become the first Puerto Rican to set foot on that stage with a speaking role. I am manifesting and dreaming about it constantly.
The one thing you’d like the power to improve in the industry?
As an advocate for diversity in the entertainment industry, I believe that actors should be cast based on their talent and ability rather than their appearance, ethnicity, or race. It’s time to eliminate the practice of simply ticking boxes for global majorities on casting briefings. All body types should be represented on stage and TV, as we are all human and capable of playing any role. I also hope to see more visibility for Latine creatives worldwide, as we deserve to have our stories heard and recognized. It’s important to me to share this message and promote greater inclusivity in the entertainment industry.
What would your advice be to up-and-coming creatives?
Always be open and listen. It’s not about you. Creating is all about team playing.
And finally, in one line or less: why should audiences come along to see your show this August?
An amazingly intense dramatic one-woman show, come and be part of this trial.
So there you have it! You can catch Joan Villafañe in “CONVICTED FLOWER” at the Etcetera Theatre 25th -27th August 2023 – more information and tickets can be found here.
Images: El Omar
Always Time For Theatre 
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