La Mara Salvatrucha presentada en el teatro mexicano contemporáneo

Abstract

The Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) is a criminal gang originating from the streets of Los Angeles, California of international reach with members in North America, the Northern Triangle, and Europe. Mara o de la noche sin sueño (2010) by Antonio Zúñiga and Expresso al paraíso (2010) by Jorge Celaya are plays that explore the international and local operations of the MS-13. In the analyzed works, communication codes typical of the MS-13 gang are highlighted, where the different borders that these gang members cross daily through their tattoos, non-verbal language with their hands and verbal language with specific gang slang. The two works serve as a warning of the atrocities of MS-13 gang members whether in urban neighborhoods or rural communities and the sacrifice made by migrants who travel long distances to achieve their dreams and flee from extreme situations.