This year’s FRESCA! International Performing Arts Festival opens at Casa Mediterráneo, running from July 20 through July 30, featuring a dynamic lineup of eleven contemporary dance, circus, theater, and flamenco performances.
FRESH! marks a decade for the festival, which returns to Casa Mediterráneo as the Institut Valencià de Cultura reimagines the space. The program brings national and international companies to the stage, including a special viewing area designed to celebrate the venue’s beauty and create a unique spectator experience.
With a total capacity of around 400 people, the Institut Valencià de Cultura unveils an original installation never seen in this space. Stands will weave into the park’s landscape, and six large-scale shows will light up the evenings at 22:00 on July 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30.
Alicia Garijo, regional delegate of the Cultural Institute of Valencia and festival director, commented: “FRESH! 2023 Alicante will once again fill the summer with high-quality offerings and a spirited, carefree vibe. We are reconnecting with audiences this year at the Mediterranean House, turning it into an even more magical space.”
Fresh Space! returns with familiar energy, offering five screenings on July 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29 at 20:00. The festival maintains one-price access of €5 to support affordable culture for families.
Gen Generalitat Cultura upholds prices from previous editions, between €5 and €24, while presenting several ticketing bonuses. The renewal subscription remains available, allowing audiences to choose four shows for €48.
Additionally, discounted rates are extended: €10 tickets for children under 14, €5 tickets for the same age group excluding certain performances, and €12 tickets for young people aged 14–30. A 20% discount continues for seniors, unemployed individuals, and members of professional performing arts associations.
programming FRESH!
Contemporary dance, flamenco, circus, theater, and live music anchor the FRESCA! program, known for its cross-disciplinary showcases that blend different art forms into a richer, more diverse cultural map.
Following the success of Pre-FRESCA!, the festival expanded two free street performances to spotlight Valencian professionals. On July 16 and 19, people along Avenida de la Constitución will enjoy performances such as Voràgine dance presented by IVC and Pepa Cases, and Kiko López’s Honest, alongside Wako Danza and Eduardo Zúñiga’s Hellouses y Goodbyeses.
NEW scenario!
On Thursday, July 20, the French company Galactic Community makes its Spain debut at FRESCA!, presenting an act that blends Optraken-style circus with gesture theater and a focus on aerobatics.
Flamenco returns to the festival on July 22 with a performance by renowned company Rafaela Carrasco, Nocturna, arquitectura del insomnio, a show that earned the Critics’ Award for best dance performance at the XXVII Festival de Flamenco de Jerez and was a MAX Awards finalist for best choreography.
July 24 brings Bilaka Kolektiboa and Scène Nationale du Sud-Aquitain to present Gernika by Martin Harriague, a piece that fuses dance with live music in an homage to traditional and contemporary culture, tragedy, and Picasso’s iconic artwork.
On July 28, Alicante-based La Trócola Circ debuts their new production REM, celebrated for its creative, playful approach across multiple circus disciplines.
Another international showcase features Ronaldo Circus with Sono io? on July 26, while July 28 sees Around La Trocola — marking its tenth anniversary — bring REM to Casa Mediterráneo, an inventive fusion of circus languages and performance that captivates audiences with its imagination.
As the year’s edition closes, the Avignon Festival’s prestige lingers: on July 30, Mal Pelo stages Highlands, a collaborative performance blending dance and music performed by sixteen artists, including eight dancers, four singers, and four string players.
Fresh!
Fresh Space? invites five family-friendly experiences at 20:00, inviting both adults and children to enjoy the festival’s playful spirit. The Catalan company Cris-Is presents Home, a fast-paced blend of clowning, mime, and circus designed for all ages.
Midnight’s We transports audiences into a knife-throwing universe on July 23, a Belgian production that promises one of the festival’s most striking experiences.
Joan Català, a Catalan artist presenting Pelat on July 25, brings a boundary-blurring show that fuses dance, circus, theater, and performance with direct audience engagement. Pelat recently earned recognition at the Sebastià Gash Awards in Barcelona and was lauded as the best street show at the MiramirO festival in Belgium.
Uparte presents Contemporary Circus Devoid on July 27, a performance focused on plasticity and adaptability through acrobatic movement. Fresrereta 2023 closes with Manolo Alcántara’s company returning to FRESCA!, bringing Halva of Power, a MAX Awards finalist and an acclaimed production celebrated for its innovation.
Mediterranean House location: Plaza de l’Arquitecto Miguel López, s/n, 03008 Alicante