Ignacio Joaquín Gutiérrez Díaz

Playwright Ignacio Gutiérrez, born in La Habana on November 27, 1929, is the author of numerous musical theater works for adults and children, among which deserve mention Llévame a la pelota —which received an honorable mention in the UNEAC Contest, 1969—, Pato Macho (1973), La casa del marinero (1979), El mambisito, El señor colmillero, Los chapuzones, La cafetera maravillosa (1980), premiered by the groups Jorge Anckermann, Rita Montaner, and Teatro Nacional de Guiñol.

He was director of the Rita Montaner group, for which he created numerous productions beginning in 1968 —La cuadratura del círculo, by V. Kataiev (1968); Petición de mano, Trágico a la fuerza, Sobre el daño que hace el tabaco, and El oso, four works by Anton Chéjov (1973), and his works Más sabe uno por viejo (1987) and Al que le tocó, le tocó (1990), among others—.

He taught at several institutions. He was in Angola, where he wrote the play Kunene o Al otro extremo de la casa (1982).

Gutiérrez studied at the Instituto de la Víbora, then painting at the Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes San Alejandro, acting at the Academia Municipal de La Habana, and directing in Czechoslovakia.

Throughout his life, he also served as a theater advisor as well as a professor of acting, directing, and dramaturgy. He was Associate Professor of directing and acting at the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA), and also worked as an expert in the theater branch of the Ministry of Culture. He was likewise vice-president of the artistic directors section of the Unión de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba and belonged to the Advisory Council of the Teatro Nacional of our country. Ignacio Gutiérrez Díaz participated in multiple international events, including congresses of the International Theatre Institute of the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture, UNESCO.

For more than 20 years during the period between 1970 and 1990, he was President of the Cuban Center of the International Theatre Institute. Ignacio Gutiérrez Díaz also shared his experience in training young Cuban artists. Ignacio conceived many works directed at children. Regarding this, he stated: "I am above all an actor for children. I premiere frequently and that makes me very happy. It is not the same to write for an actor as to write for a puppet, which, even though it is guided by the artist, has movement limitations."

And he further clarified: "Good children's theater is no longer exclusive to the city. Often there is more quality in the interior than in La Habana." Ignacio Gutiérrez Díaz published 27 books and 30 of his works were premiered by different companies. In Cuba, he received several recognitions and honors, among which were the Distinction for National Culture, the medal for 25 years of support to the Amateur Movement, the Raúl Gómez García and Alejo Carpentier medals, respectively. Also, the "Hermanos Saíz" Association granted him a special recognition for his contribution over the years to the development of the youth movement in the performing arts in Cuba.

He died in La Habana on February 6, 2007, at the age of 77.