Today there was a press conference at the Teatre Lliure to expose the residency program and the novelty of a professional conference. But the director Juan Carlos Martel wanted to start the meeting with the media with a brief statement about the news of his resignation to be re-elected in office at the end of January 2024.
Martel has cited "structural reasons" and "lack of conditions" to complete the project that was proposed when he took over the management of the entity in 2019. "I said that I came to make a change in a theater that needed it and still needs it . And I believe that a time has come when, by leaving, I help change even more”, he declared, because “the people who cause change are not people of consensus”. He has also remarked that his commitment to the Teatre Lliure will continue until the end.
That said, Martel and Georgina Oliva, director of programming and content, have detailed the news of the residency program, which honors the memory of the founding actress Carlota Soldevila. Among the novelties, the celebration of a professional conference, ProCarlota, so that the artists and companies that have been part of this program over four years can contact professionals in the sector and learn about their work.
Atresbandes, the resident company, lives up to its name and presents three shows. The recreation of The war of the worlds, which was seen (or heard) in March; y Desert (26/ V to 4/VI) and Global aspect of an issue (7-18/VI), in the Lliure de Gràcia.
Pau Masaló is the resident artist and presents two installations. One is itinerant, Dormitory City, which will be seen in the Montjuïc cemetery (14-18/VI) and, thanks to the internationalization of the program, will travel to Hong Kong.
The second is Farewell, Petroleum! “We did not want to make a didactic show –explains Masaló–, but the idea of farewell to a world that is ending, that of oil. And for this reason they do "small farewell rituals" in two versions, one in the room, Una festa (28/IV), and the other in the street, in the Margarida Xirgu square, "a kind of performance with motorcycles to honor with irony to oil and internal combustion engines”, Sense títol (16/VI).
The creative exchange residence has been done with Campo, from Ghent (Belgium). Nico Jongen presents Cantus Gestualis
Finally, the artist-in-residence Marina Congost works with the 1st grade students of the Turó de Roquetes institute, "so that they can voice their stories", in the montage Un dia, jo, which will be seen in Espai Lliure ( 30/V).
Martel has expressed his satisfaction with the operation of this programme, which is prospering in the field of performing arts and which, over the course of five years, counting next season, will reach almost one million euros.
"The residency program allows risk and making mistakes", he stressed, and insisted that, with the 143,980 euros awarded last year, a figure similar to that of this year, "creation is promoted, not production". On 21-22, 85 artists and groups participated, with shows that were seen by 1,400 spectators.
The 23-24 program will be made up of Íntims Produccions as the resident company; Magda Puig will be the artist in residence and the creative residency exchange will go to Taipei next year, with the National Performing Arts Center – The National Theater
Catalan version, here
