La Castile and León Theatre Fair converts again Rodrigo City in the scenic focus of the western peninsula 26 to August 30, with a broad, diverse program designed for all audiences. The event articulates its proposal between halls and open-air spaces, with special attention to recent creations and the circulation of companies, similar to events such as the Almagro International Classical Theater Festival.
The curtain rises with the world premiere of 'Arraigo', by Arvine Danza, this Tuesday at 17:00 at the New Fernando Arrabal Theater, where folklore, the bolero school, stylized dance and flamenco intertwine to vindicate roots and shared memory.
Programming and premieres
The program brings together 43 shows and around 60 functions, with 16 premieres (of them, 11 absolutes), which is around 37% of the total. More than 80% of the montages have not yet been seen in Castile and León, and the weight of the autonomous creation It is realized in 14 titles within the main poster.
The selection arises from 977 proposals received from all communities and from more than twenty countries, with a clear commitment to company rotation: None of those scheduled last year are repeating, and almost half are performing in the Ciudad Rodrigo market for the first time. The lineup combines text, gestural and documentary theatre, puppets and objects, dance, circus and new circus, as well as hybrid formats.
First day's agenda
The opening day concentrates six functions, With several milestones that pave the way for a intense week. Then, some notable schedules for today in Ciudad Rodrigo:
- 'Rooting' (Arvine Danza), world premiere: Teatro Nuevo Fernando Arrabal, 17:00.
- 'Heartbeats' (Impossible Theatre): Tierra Room, 19:00 (young and adult audiences).
- 'Caricature' (PIA, Portugal), premiere in Spain: departure from Herrasti square, 20:00 (street performance).
- 'All My Enemies' (El Avispero Productions): Afecir Space, 21:00 (contemporary creation with a social perspective).
- 'Rumbo Latòti' (Nostraxladamus): Bologna Gardens, 22:30 (circus adventure for all audiences).
- 'String Theory' (The Crises): Courtyard of the Sites, 23:30 (musical theater).
Territorial representation
The fair looks with intention to the western peninsula, with more than half of the programming coming from Castile and León, Extremadura, Galicia and PortugalIn Castile and León the presence of 14 companies, between them Impossible Theater ('Heartbeats'), Arvine Dance ('Rooting'), Alice Wonderland ('Antepresents'), Star R. ('Miscellany'), Arawake ('There be deer here'), The Freak Cabaret Circus ('Playground'), Moon fish ('aFlights'), Shivering ('Traveling Carousel'), Cidanz-BCB ('Daydreams'), Eugenia Manzanera ('Oh, what a mess!'), Project 43-2 ('Federico. There is no forgetting or dreaming: living flesh') and Hopscotch Productions ('A Midsummer Night's Dream').
From Estremadura arrive, among others, Asaco Productions ('The very big pulga', world premiere), Water Theater ('The footprint'), The Wasp Productions ('All my enemies') and Karlik Dance Theater ('And we were heroes'). Galicia provides Sarabela Theater ('The Golden Dragon') and Redrum Theatre ('The Tales of Lobicán', Spanish premiere). From Portugal involved Parallel Universe Company ('Jacaranda'), This ('Descamino', Portuguese-Spanish cast) and PIA ('Caricature', premiere in Spain), promoting collaboration with the Fundão Iberian Theater Fair.
Proposals are also added from the Valencian Community y Catalonia (four per territory) —with special support to the Valencian sector after the DANA—, as well as Andalucía (three), Aragon (two), Madrid, Asturias, the Basque Country, Navarra, Balearics y Canary Islands. All of this reinforces the character Iberian and plural of the meeting.
Diversity for all audiences
The program covers from the classical theater to contemporary dramaturgies and addresses current affairs —touristification, technology, media, mental health— alongside universal themes such as memory, relationships and nature. Fourteen titles will be seen outdoors; the rest, in specific rooms and spaces, with the New Fernando Arrabal Theater —in his 125 anniversary— as the main stage. The offer is distributed between youth and adults (22 mounts), All public (10) and children and family (11), with the educational program Divierteatro back in the Plaza del Buen Alcalde.
Documentary theater and activities
This year an itinerary is drawn up of documentary theater with four shows and a feminist perspective, in alliance with the Institute of WomenFor the professional sector, a specific day ('From reality to the scene') and the COFAE workshop on 'Creation and Composition in Documentary Theatre', imparted by Mary Saint Michael, in addition to a meeting with creators such as Olatz Gorrotxategi, Estrella Riesco y Francesca Vadell.
In parallel programming the following are delivered: Audience Awards from the previous edition —best children's and family award for 'Yo Tarzán' (Festuc Teatre), best venue for 'Xpectro' (Zen del Sur) and best street for 'El abrazo' (Titiriteros de Binéfar)—, along with the Rosa María García Cano and the award Province on Stage.
Professionals and market
The fair confirms its role as main stage market from the western Iberian Peninsula: 279 professionals have been accredited (a 8,1% more than last year), with 136 purchasing entities (programmers, festivals), 71 for sale (companies and producers), 32 with double profile (distribution/production) and 40 dynamic agents (media and institutions).
The profile reveals the sector loyalty: A 63% repeats year after year, while a 30% comes for the first time, favoring rotation. In addition, the 79% of those accredited with a buyer profile have contracted shows seen at the fair during the last four years, a sign of effectiveness as negotiation space.
In origins, the majority comes from Castilla y Leon (44%), followed by Madrid, Andalusia, Extremadura, Catalonia, Basque Country y Castilla la Mancha, with international presence of Portugal (21 professionals). The event also brings together thousands of spectators and acts as cultural and socioeconomic shock for the Mirobrigense region.
With a programming that combines quality, novelty and diversity, the fair opens a privileged showcase where absolute premieres, established names and new voices coexist, reinforcing the bridge Castile and León–Portugal and consolidating Ciudad Rodrigo as a meeting place to create, showcase, and contract performing arts.
