The 78th edition of the Avignon Festival, a focal point of international performing arts, will feature 35 productions and over 300 cultural events, from 29 June to 21 July. For the first time, a play performed entirely in Catalan is part of the official programme. Història d’un senglar (o alguna cosa de Ricard) (Story of a wild boar (or something about Richard)) by the Uruguayan author Gabriel Calderón, who also directed it, was translated by Joan Sellent and stars Joan Carreras. In this monologue, Carreras takes on the challenge of portraying Richard III, one of Shakespeare's most malevolent characters. The play, which was first performed at Teatre de Salt in 2020, is a collaborative production between Temporada Alta Festival and Grec Festival de Barcelona. Since its premiere, the piece has been performed hundreds of times in Catalonia and also had a season in Madrid. The play has garnered numerous accolades, including the Max award and the Catalan Critics’ Award for best lead actor, the Barcelona City Award for Joan Carreras, and two Butaca awards for best actor and best small-format show. It will be staged at the Théâtre Benoît-XII in Avignon, from 12 to 21 July, marking a significant achievement for Catalan theatre and its global reach.
The Franco-Catalan company Baró d'Evel features in this year's official programme and from 3 to 14 July Qui Som, its latest production, will be performed on the stage of the Cour du lycée Saint-Joseph. In their artistic works, Camille Decourtye and Blaï Mateu Trias strive to push the boundaries of conventional artistic practices, aiming for a total art that is characterised by taking risks, intersecting genres, and displacing expectations. Their performances integrate various elements such as movement, acrobatics, singing, music, materials, and interactions between people and animals on the stage. After making a name for themselves on the streets and in the big top before shifting to theatres, these circus artists were invited to perform at the Avignon Festival for the first time. Their performances, which feature a combination of actors, dancers, musicians, acrobats, clowns, and ceramists, are replete with humour and creativity, often engaging the audience as part of the stage action. It is remarkable the collaboration in the staging of this show by Maria Muñoz and Pep Ramis of the company Mal Pelo. Qui som is an international co-production and part of the Grec Festival de Barcelona, where it can be seen from 25 to 27 July.
This year's Avignon Festival features performances from Catalan artists including singer Sílvia Pérez Cruz, presenting Circular, and Angélica Liddel from Figueres, who opened the festival with her piece Dämon. El funeral de Bergman (Dämon. Bergman's funeral). As for the OFF Avinyó, Sergi López will present Non Solum, in French, on July 15 at 8:30 p.m. at the Chêne Noir (Théâtre Du).
