Relations is the name adopted by the new theatrical genre that emerged in the first half of the 18th century in the easternmost part of the Cuban archipelago, specifically in Santiago de Cuba, where they had great development.

It’s a Spanish word that includes short fragments and monologues taken from famous comedies. In some cases, they were also original plays or parodies and satires of the powerful. The relationship was popular in Spain during the 17th century.

In Cuba, these were productions starring groups of free Black people who traveled from town to town performing short dramatic scenes, verses, and songs, the texts of which were their own. The Relaciones in Cuba were very similar to the gangarillas of medieval Spanish theater.

Among the distinctive features of the Relaciones is their strong narrative content. They were performed by the lower classes. Their purpose was to critique and satire, achieved through popular, musical, and street forms. They were performed on improvised stages set up in squares, streets, or private homes.

In Santiago, during the July carnival, Black people performed in the streets, performing one-act plays, which could be serious or humorous. The female characters were played by men.

Relationship theater is a distinct form of theater that finds its origins in religious performances during Spanish processions and festivals.

The current work of the Santiago Theater Council is where we can find the validity of the relationships within the Cuban theater scene.