Temporada Alta Theatre Festival celebrates its 25th edition with acclaimed international shows

Barcelona (CNA).- Polish theatre director Krystian Lupa, British director Peter Brook, and the Belgian-born choreographer Alain Platel are some of the big international names that can be seen at Temporada Alta this autumn. The renowned performing arts festival, which takes place in Girona until the 4^th of December, celebrates its 25^th edition and has programmed 26 international shows, from 17 different countries, with two major theatrical areas of focus: the Latin American Connection series, established four years ago, which concentrates on productions from across the Atlantic, and the Flanders Connection series, which this year will celebrate its second edition and will bring the Flemish theatrical scene to the audience. 

The Latin American Connection series puts the spotlight on “one of the most successful theatrical laboratories and one of the most interesting creative hubs on the planet”, explained the organisers of the event. This fourth edition of the series, offers pieces from Argentine Mauricio Kartun, who will present ‘Terrenal’ (‘Earthly’), Uruguayan Sergio Blanco, who returns to the Festival this year with ‘La ira de Narciso’ (‘Narciso’s rage’), Chilean Pablo Larrain, who moves from the cinema to the theatre with ‘Acceso’(‘Access’); and the Mexican collective Lagartijas tiradas al sol, regular visitors at Temporada Alta, who will present three documentary theatre productions: ‘Santiago Amoukalli’, ‘Veracruz, nos estamos desforestando’ (‘Veracruz, we are being deforested’) and ‘Cómo extrañar Xalapa’ (‘How to miss Xalapa’).

Having being well-received at the last edition, the Flanders Connection series enters its second year, in which the Festival focuses its gaze on the Flemish theatre scene. This year, the guest names are Alain Platel, who visits the Festival for the third time and presents ‘Nicht Schlafen’ (‘Don’t sleep’); the d'irque & fíen Company with the show ‘Carrousel des moutons’ (‘Sheep Carousel’), a recital of music, poetry and circus for the whole family; and Guy Cassiers with ‘De Welwillenden’ (‘The Kindly Ones’), which is part of the ‘The Littell Project’, a co-production of the Festival, funded by the European programme Creative Europe. 

A gateway for international productions to Europe

Girona’s festival is noted for acting as the gateway to Spain, and often to Europe, for many international productions, both from established names on the stage and from new, emerging voices from various countries. In this 25^th edition, visitors will be able to see productions from, among others, Milo Rau, who presents ‘Mitleid’ (‘Compassion’), a political play based on the drama of refugees and the forcibly displaced; and Peter Brook, with ‘Marie-Hélène Estienne’, who becomes the international director that has taken part in the Festival most often, with 10 visits.  

Besides this, Temporada Alta is involved with three international productions which will debut in Girona this year: ‘Ante la jubilación’ (‘In front of retirement’), by Krystian Lupa, who for the first time will work with Catalan actors; ‘Primer Álbum’ (‘First Album’) with Xavier Bobés, Shaday Larios and Jomi Oligor; and the already mentioned ‘De Welwillenden’ (‘The kindly ones’) from Guy Cassiers.

Promoting Catalan theatre

In order to promote Catalan theatre inside and outside the country, Temporada Alta continues to invest in young talent, creations and authors from Catalonia. This year, the Catalan director Lluís Pasqual has been given the responsibility of raising the curtain on the festival with ‘In memoriam. La quinta del biberón’, co-produced by the Temporada Alta and the Teatre Lliure in Barcelona, a work that has grown out of testaments from witnesses to the Battle of the Ebro. It will open the Festival this Friday, at the Municipal Theatre of Girona. This world premiere is the starting pistol for a programme containing a total of 100 events that can be seen up to 4^th December. 

Temporada Alta continues its commitment to seeking a balance between production and co-production of new shows - 29 in total - as well as promoting Catalan works and putting an emphasis on contemporary creation - which accounts for 27 of this year’s shows. Although most of the programming is concentrated in Girona and Salt, the Festival will be present in a total of 9 different towns and villages over 28 venues.

25 years of culture 

Temporada Alta reaches 25 years after a long career promoting culture and the performing arts at national level. Since its creation in 1992 by the producer, Bitò, the Festival has positioned itself as a benchmark festival in Spain and Europe.