‘Doublons for Eternity’ begins a tour through five towns and neighborhoods of La Laguna to bring local heritage closer through theater, dance and historical dissemination
La Laguna presents a new edition of its traditional Neighborhood Tour with the play “Doubles for Eternity,” an initiative that combines theater and dance with historical and heritage outreach. This free performance, open to all audiences, will travel to the squares of five towns and neighborhoods throughout the municipality on Sundays in April and May, following its magnificent reception in the historic city center.
The activity, promoted by the Department of Cultural Heritage of the La Laguna City Council, along with Burka Teatro and historian and popularizer Néstor Verona, aims to bring local history closer to the public through comedy and reenactments set in the Golden Age. The approximately 80-minute show combines humor, dance, and even a sword fight to narrate, through a human story, the social, cultural, and economic reality of the era.
The tour will begin this Sunday, April 19, with two performances: at 12:00 noon in Las Carboneras Square and at 6:00 p.m. in San Diego. The program will continue on April 26 at the Taco Powder Magazine, starting at noon; on May 10 at 6:00 p.m. in Rocío Park; and will conclude on May 17 in Tejina Square, also at 12:00 noon.
The Councilor for Cultural Heritage, Adolfo Cordobés, emphasized that this new tour “reinforces the city’s commitment to an innovative, accessible model of heritage dissemination deeply connected to the identity of our neighborhoods and towns.” He stressed that theater “has become an extraordinary tool for sparking interest in local history, especially among audiences that don’t usually participate in more traditional heritage activities.”
For Cordobés, “comedy allows us to break down barriers, foster a sense of connection, and transform learning into a memorable experience. When citizens recognize themselves in stories of the past, their connection to the land is strengthened, and a genuine commitment to its preservation is activated.”
The municipal official noted that this initiative aligns with UNESCO recommendations for World Heritage sites, which emphasize the need to promote education, awareness, and community engagement programs. “La Laguna, as the only World Heritage City in the Canary Islands, has a responsibility to bring its legacy closer to the entire population. These theatrical tours democratize access to heritage, decentralize it, and allow each community to recognize its own story,” he added.
Historian and popularizer Néstor Verona, responsible for providing historical context for the play, explained that “Doubles for Eternity” allows the public to glimpse a key period in the formation of La Laguna society. “Theatricalization transforms content into lived experiences. It’s not just about hearing facts, but about seeing them acted out, feeling them, and understanding them within their context. History ceases to be something distant and becomes a shared experience.” Verona also highlighted that the play “combines historical rigor with a humorous tone that facilitates participation and enjoyment for very diverse audiences.”
For his part, Nacho Almenar, director of Burka Teatro, stated that this tour “is an opportunity to bring theater to open, everyday, and community spaces, where the relationship with the audience is more direct and vibrant.” Almenar explained that the cast has worked to “bring to life historical figures and unusual scenes that, although set centuries ago, continue to resonate with our current identity.” The director emphasized that the traveling format “allows each neighborhood to experience the play differently, incorporating its own human and emotional landscape.”
A burial and a secret
“Doubloons for Eternity” tells the story of Doña Magdalena Joven, a devoted wife and self-sacrificing mother who has been dying for over six years and intends to hold a funeral befitting her social standing, a plan that threatens to ruin her family. Her daughter-in-law, Doña Ángela Calderón, tries to stop this extravagance by revealing a secret that affects the protagonist’s peculiar appearance. From this premise, the play unfolds a humorous and critical portrait of society in La Laguna between the 16th and 17th centuries.
The Department of Cultural Heritage invites all citizens to enjoy this tour, which combines entertainment, history, and community participation. “It is not enough to preserve heritage; we must activate it socially, and this tour is an example of how art can become a bridge between the past and the present, between memory and the daily life of our towns and neighborhoods,” concluded Cordobés.