Speech

Synopsis

A presidential palace in Chile, the final day of a woman president’s term.

The President, a compassionate socialist and former paediatrician, delivers her farewell address. As she speaks, she grapples with her complex legacy, the painful history of Chile, and her own conflicted feelings about power, socialism, and forgiveness.

Guillermo Calderón’s Speech is a poetic, stream-of-consciousness monologue that explores the intersection of personal and political history. Through the President’s candid reflections, the play delves into themes of leftist ideology, national trauma, and the compromises of governance. Calderón’s lyrical prose blends humour, pathos, and sharp political commentary, creating a portrait of a leader torn between idealism and pragmatism. The play’s non-linear structure mirrors the President’s meandering thoughts, touching on everything from her childhood memories to the broader sweep of Latin American politics. “Speech” offers a nuanced examination of power, guilt, and the lasting impacts of dictatorship on Chilean society.