Representations of violence in school theater: Students’ perceptions of the play Dulcinea Encadenada

Abstract

The DICREA UBB 2025–2026 project promoted access to professional theatre among elementary and middle school students in Chillán, Ñuble Region. This study analyzed the impact of the play Dulcinea encadenada, by Teatro del Nuevo Mundo, on 283 seventhand eighth-grade students. A quantitative, non-experimental, crosssectional, descriptive design was used, with a survey administered after the performance. Results showed that students mainly associated violence with physical aggression (94.3%), insults, and discrimination (68%), while 53.6% understood war as involving both armed conflict and power relations. Between 78% and 83% associated women with motherhood and caregiving roles; 83% identified violence against women and 80% against people based on sexual orientation or gender identity. For 51.8% of students, this was their first experience attending professional theatre, and 77% evaluated it positively. The findings suggest that professional theatre contributes to cultural access and promotes critical reflection on social issues in school contexts.