This play has already won awards and will be performed on the Fringe from 17 to 25 August.
The drama unfolds within the walls of La Moneda, Allende’s presidential palace in Santiago de Chile. Facing imminent defeat, Allende meets a mysterious and elegantly dressed stranger, Agent D, who challenges him to reflect on his life and beliefs in what becomes the ultimate chess game. The play is a gripping exploration of history, weaving fact with fictional elements.
Luigi Laraia’s drama first captivated audiences at the 2022 Capital Fringe Festival in Washington D.C., winning both Best Drama and Best of Festival awards.
Praised for its “enthralling script,” the play blends Allende’s final speeches with imagined scenarios, offering a nuanced portrait of the leader. “I have a deep fascination with Allende’s story, which started when I was researching him for my undergraduate dissertation,” said Laraia, who studied first at London Metropolitan University and graduated with a Masters from The London School of Economics and Political Science. “He wanted no part in an armed struggle or a revolution through insurgency. He remained true to his ideals and the Chilean Constitution until the very end.”
Laraia said the play underscores the fragility of democracy and the dangers posed by populism and falsehoods.
“We do not wish to glorify Allende, his political ideals, or his government,” Laraia said. “Instead, we aim to highlight the importance of fighting for democratic values and institutions, now and for future generations. It does not take a dictator for democracy to crumble.”
The original Washington cast returns for the Edinburgh production.
Produced by the New York-based LakeArts Foundation, “September 11, 1973: The Day Salvador Allende Died” will run from August 17 to 25, 2024 at 1300 BST, at C Aquila in Edinburgh. Tickets, priced from £6.20 to £13.00 are available here.
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