Theatre masters Flotats and Espert relive drama of exiled Catalan intellectuals through their letters

Barcelona (ACN).- Correspondence between exiled Catalan intellectuals has never been read with so much power on a stage. Catalonia’s most famous classical theatre actors Núria Espert and Josep Maria Flotats lent a voice to the correspondence of well-known Catalan intellectuals at the Barcelona Theatre Lliure Montjuïc, during the show L’Exili (exile). This show is part of the series “Cartes lliures” (Free Letters) coordinated and directed by Pau Carrió. The series focuses on the correspondence of Catalan intellectuals, and each “chapter” has a theme. ‘L’exili’ focused on the exile of cello player Pau Casals and writers such as Mercè Rodoreda, Armand Obiols, Carles Pi i Sunyer, Carles Riba, Joan Oliver, the creator of the Catalan dictionary Pompeu Fabra, Agustí Bartra, and the author Pere Calders. Espert and Flotats, on a simple stage, with some background images of the letters’ authors, brought closer to home the drama of exile in a firm, emotive and intimate voice.

Flotas and Espert lend a voice to all the exiles in their letters where they express their sadness and regret, their adventures and anecdotes, the tough times of the exile and, even in some cases, their return to Catalonia. With their imposing voices and silences, both actors brought to life the inner feelings behind the letters.

“I have chosen a path and I will make all efforts not to stray from it and one day will settle all debts that I still claim to life”, wrote the wirter Mercè Rodoreda to Carles Pi i Sunyer. Musician Pau Casals wrote to Boaz Piller, director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, in a letter: “I don’t know if in America people are aware of what is happening here. There is a fierce beast that is destroying everything and, through crime and terror, it takes and enslaves one nation after another. Outrage caused by the state of things there and everywhere has no value anymore, not even moral value. The only decent attitude is to act. The beast ought to be killed once and for all for it is a threat to the whole world”.

Talking to ACN, Pau Carrió explained  that when he decided to stage a couple of sessions on letters written from exile he thought it would be good to give a voice not only to recognised people but also to people of other trades who wouldn’t have the same public impact. This proposal can be seen in a second session of “Cartes Lliures”. In addition, Carrió highlighted that there are letters from Catalan intellectuals “that describe in an interesting and literal way what exile is”. He considered that “those letters give us such an insight as to what was happening at that time”.

A joy to have Flotats and Espert on stage

The play’s director recognised that “he is so pleased” to have on the stage top Catalan actors such as Flotats and Espert “they do a brilliant job. It is a gift to the audience and to me to be able to work with them for a couple of days with this material. Bringing these great actors together is a little gem”.

As regards the choice of letters, Carrió highlighted that the process has been long and that he read many letters, talking to historians and visiting various archives. Even though many of those letters do not feature in the play, he pointed out that “he wanted to build the whole picture with a bit of each”.

Carrió emphasised that exile was very tough and remembered that those who left came face to face with World War II. “It is a feeling of a torn-apart world but in an intimate view they rebuilt their courage and country. It is somehow surprising because the place where they started is so bleak that the strength they summoned is an example to all”.