Alacant Escena returns for its sixth edition, bringing eleven emerging projects in theatre, dance, and circus to audiences across the city. The festival unfolds from September 30 to December 16 with performances dispersed through various venues and a three-day program of talks at the Gil-Albert Institute. This year the program, supported by the Ministry of Culture, highlights both established companies and newly formed ensembles, presenting two more productions than last year. The lineup features seven theatre pieces, two circus pieces, and two dances, including three winning works and three substitutes from the Alicante province. Two guest companies are invited, and Teatro Principal contributes three productions to this edition.
The opening show of Alacant Escena marks a notable premiere. It showcases the winners of the fifth José Estruch Theatrical Production Residency, a witty comedy that honors supporting actors with melodies from classic musicals. It is a collaborative creation by Iván Jiménezray and Mark Montagud, produced with artists and crafted for Alicante’s Main Theatre, with the premiere scheduled for September 30.
Two other occasions will take place in early October, including a Valencia-based Alcoy company performance blending comedy and tragedy. The audience follows an abduction plot turned on its head as the text, written by Pasqual Alapont and staged by Pepa Ballester, unfolds.
The showcase continues with a national premiere on November 17, a co-production between Elche Railway Company and UA Master’s in Dramatic Art, in collaboration with the municipalities of Alicante and Elche and the IVC. This unprecedented Spain debut brings to life a work by Thomas Muddleton and William Rowley, celebrated for turning 400 years old. Set against the backdrop of Alicante, the production explores passion and deception on an historical stage. The deputy director notes that this is the only English Renaissance play performed in Alicante, with direction by Paco Macià, a translation by John Sanderson, and lighting by Juanjo Llorens.
Among the featured contemporary works in Alacant Escena, two pieces premiere on October 8 at Las Cigarreras. A tale of transformation follows two women in a cage, blending multiple disciplines. The program also includes Arrel, a piece by Federika Fasano that probes belonging and identity through movement. On November 24, Felicidad Sánchez presents a performance at the Social Center, and on November 25, the Ambulance Laboratory stages a piece in the Alicante light that revisits a local story.
Three reserve projects spark enthusiasm: Hyacinth Siphon Fontana preserves traditional clowning; Black Tears, a minimalist piece exploring a woman’s fractured psyche; and No Other Record, a dance work by Carlos Penalver that intensifies the tension between power and vulnerability in human connection. Each work adds texture to the festival’s line-up with a focus on storytelling across disciplines.
Basque guest company Hortzmuga Theatre contributes an emotionally resonant street comedy, performed on October 14 in Plaza de la Cruz. Pampol Theatre develops a residence project at the Gastón Castelló center, culminating with a December 16 performance at Alicante on stage that features puppetry and object theater.
Cultural Consultant Anthony Manresa observes that the festival has matured over six years, consistently showcasing local talent, elevating the value of performing arts, and establishing Alicante as a key stage for contemporary productions. The city allocates a budget of 20,000 euros for the festival, a sum that is effectively tripled by additional productions supplied by Teatro Principal de Alicante. Several productions are also integrated into the Culture in Neighborhoods program for that winter season. [Citation: City of Alicante Cultural Office]