# Huberto Llamas Estévez

**Date of birth:** April 29, 1944

**Categories:** Arts, theater, Society

Theater director.

Graduated in acting from the National School of Theater. He develops his first professional work as a volunteer instructor in the Youth Labor Army, and creates several amateur theater groups, with which he achieves outstanding results in the Festivals of the Amateur Artists Movement.

In the 1970s, he joins the work team of the Community Development Group in the Genetic Plan east of La Habana, as well as in agricultural cooperatives in Madruga, contributing to the integral development of that territory in 10 newly constructed communities.

He moves to the Cultural Assets Fund creating there the Plaza Vieja Group and working for the International Crafts Fairs in three neighborhoods, with extraordinary success La Guinera, Cayo Hueso and el Romerillo; and from there to the National Theater of Cuba.

His work abroad is enriched by bringing his Cuban experiences in the creation of theatrical groups with marginalized sectors and with diverse social problems, in addition to teaching classes, workshops and conferences on voice management in: México, Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panamá, Puerto Rico and República Dominicana.

Under the auspices of the UNESCO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, he carried out the project of Las Pastorelas de La Habana and the Cultural Institution La Barraca in serving communities with various problems such as Cruz de Piedra and Santa Cruz del Norte.

National Vanguard of the SNTC on repeated occasions, he holds the Order for National Culture, and the Raúl Gómez García Order, is a member of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba.

Recent experiences of community theatrical work demonstrate his commitment, human and artistic sensitivity to contribute to the human enrichment of those around him and the neighborhoods with which he has interacted --at the national and international level-- in the intense community work that characterizes his condition as an actor and theater director, in order to contribute to the spiritual life of the population.

Llamas is recognized for his masterful directions in enduring works such as Andoba, Santa Camila de la Habana Vieja, Réquiem por Yarini, Madre Coraje and many more, a teaching career that has made him deserving of 18 national awards and numerous international ones.

Artistic work in Panamá
A group of Panamanian teachers from the province of Darién had a unique experience in their work thanks to the initiative of Huberto Llamas, who managed to unite teaching work with the performing arts. For several months, a team of Cuban specialists under Llamas' command traveled through eight provinces of Panamá and trained 1,400 teachers in what he calls the art of corporal expression, to turn them into cultural promoters and art instructors.

This project achieved that students who had not had a relationship with art establish one, as it has brought art to the most remote corners.

Another part of his work in Panamá is related to the performing arts in the area of training opinion leaders, not only here, but also in México, in Colombia, and in other countries.

He also works on the history of Latin America, including the great discoveries, the liberators such as Bolívar, Martí, Sucre and so many more, so that students know their roots.