Seven theatrical productions
The Alicante International Classical Theater Festival returns for a seventh edition, running from 13 to 24 September. Once again, the city becomes a vibrant stage for two weeks of performances organized by the Alicante City Council and the Provincial Council, guided by a rich artistic program. The principal venue is the Teatro Principal, with additional events at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MACA), the Seneca Space, the Juan Gil Albert Cultural Institute, and the Water Museum, creating a network of spaces across the city that invite locals and visitors to experience classical theater in fresh settings.
After two years when culture faced heavy restrictions, the festival marks a hopeful resurgence with high-caliber proposals designed to engage diverse audiences. The festival year opens with Celestina, adapted and performed by Antonio Campos, a virtuoso guitarist known for his flexibility and expressive acting. In this rendition, Campos embodies all the characters and also serves as the narrator, weaving music and storytelling into a compact, spellbinding theatrical experience. The guitar accompaniment by José Luis Montón supplies mood, rhythm, and tonal color, enriching the drama and the comedy woven through La Celestina’s world.
On the second day, audiences will encounter the adaptation FO! of the classic Fuenteovejuna by Juan Mayorga, reimagined in a 2040 setting. The play places UA Theater Class students in a flooded Earth scenario where Fuenteovejuna unfolds anew, prompting reflection on media perspectives and public discourse amid crisis. This provocative staging invites viewers to interrogate how technology, memory, and societal narratives shape our understanding of historic events.
Love enters the lineup with Love Market arriving on September 15, followed by a Friday 16 performance of Sappho, a collaboration among the Mérida International Classical Theater Festival, Teatre Romea, and the Grec Festival Barcelona. Christina Rosenvinge and Marta Pazos collaborate in a phase that echoes Safo’s poetry, with Rosenvinge contributing original songs under the direction of Marta Pazos.
The mid-September program culminates with Rafael Álvarez, known as El Brujo, presenting Gods and God, a production celebrated for its warmth, wit, and a deep sense that theatre is life and life is theatre. The piece blends humor with heart, inviting audiences to savor both the craft and the humanity on display.
Elizabeth’s Journey offers two family-friendly performances at Espacio Séneca, a playful and accessible tale from de la Tartana Teatro that combines romance and adventure with light humor and simple charm. British Spanish, a Cervantes-inspired production, appears on Saturday 17 at 19:00 and again on Sunday 18 at 12:00, delivering a cultural experience that resonates with audiences of all ages.
On Saturday 24, Miles Gloriosus, a centerpiece of the festival, features Carlos Sobera, Ángel Pardo, Elisa Matilla, Elena Ballesteros, and other renowned performers. Co-hosted with Mérida’s International Classical Theater Festival and Arequipa Producciones, the production underscores the enduring appeal and relevance of classic drama, reinterpreted for contemporary stages and audiences.
Within the Garrigós Wells area at the Water Museum, a series of performances bridges spoken word, music, and myth. From 17 to 25 September, the festival hosts a narrated journey through the ancient Greek world with Coralina Rodríguez on the 17th and 18th, followed by Raquel López’ Drop by Drop on the 20th to 22nd. The series examines the life-giving and life-taking properties of water through poetic storytelling. The final performances on 23 and 25 feature Iphigeneia Kakridano and a Mythological Greece program that invites audiences to explore myth through performance and art.
Alicante is celebrating a renewed edition of its International Classical Theater Festival thanks to collaboration among diverse institutions. Over the years, the city has worked hard to place itself on the national cultural map, with a focus on talent, creativity, and ambitious projects that push classical theater into new territory. A key strength remains the decentralization of programming and the opening of venues beyond the Teatro Principal. MACA, Espacio Séneca, the Juan Gil Albert Cultural Institute, and the Museo de Aguas have become integral venues that bring classic theater closer to wider audiences.
In summary, the Alicante City Council and Teatro Principal coordinates offer a robust, city-wide festival experience that shines a light on classical theatre while inviting fresh voices and new forms of storytelling. The season emphasizes accessibility, cultural exchange, and the enduring power of live performance, making the festival a landmark event for audiences in Spain and visitors from abroad. [Citation: Festival organizers and cultural partners disclosure]