La niña y la ballena (Neska eta Balea / The Girl and the Whale) is a visually stunning, deeply moving theatrical experience that resonates across generations. A lone whale returns to the harbor of Getaria on Spain’s Basque coast, carrying the ancestral memory of her species’ persecution and the echoes of a vanishing world beneath the waves. When twelve-year-old Itxaso—a girl with hearing loss who perceives the delicate balance between sound and silence—crosses paths with Jokin, a local journalist investigating the whale’s mysterious arrival, an unexpected journey unfolds.
Together, they uncover a haunting truth: the ocean’s soundscape is under siege. Modern noise pollution, invisible to most, is a deadly assault on marine life. But Itxaso listens—really listens—and with the help of hydrophones, she and Jokin discover an ancient message hidden in whale song. One that has waited centuries to be heard.
Interweaving Basque maritime history, environmental urgency, and the magical bond between a child and a whale, this lyrical and heart-filled play asks: If the ocean remembers everything we’ve done, will we have the courage to listen—and the wisdom to change?
With breathtaking projections, emotive puppetry, and a story full of heart, La niña y la ballena speaks to children, parents, activists, and dreamers alike. Presented in Spanish with English supertitles, this unforgettable production is part of TeatroFest NYC 2025, a citywide celebration of Latinx theater.