After Colombia gained its independence in 1819, theater content shifted away from its religious roots and towards building a national identity.
As theater attendance had become common across all social classes, the stage became an opportunity to reinforce themes of unity, conscience, and liberation.
[2] Out of this era came memorable playwrights such as Luis Vargas Tejada, the “forerunner of Colombian theater.” The Santa Fé writer briefly served as Secretary of the Senate.
Based out of Cartagena, Madrid wrote political plays critiquing Spain’s conquests of Central and South America.
The growing fondness of the practice led to the construction of el Teatro de Cristóbal Colón in Bogotá.
The social and cultural impact of fine arts education was so widespread that major schools like Universidad de Antioquia began offering degree programs for aspiring dramaturgs.
Still, the room has been made on stage for young writers to touch on topics such as incarceration, identity, and immigration.
Despite the impacts of COVID-19, organizations such as ANDE Asociación Nacional de Dirección Escénica have continued the tradition of theater festivals by hosting them online.
Theater in Colombia is informally known as "tablas" (woods) because of the wooden stages on which actors perform their plays.