The theater rises again in the quarry landscape, where summer echoes return to life. Mount Coto de Pinoso hosts a Greco-Roman Theater Festival that nods to the region’s history, with performances scheduled from July 15 to 17. Phaedra appears once more as the central figure, embodying a tale of love, desire, and the push-pull between freedom and guilt that shadows a woman in her pursuit of autonomy.
Phaedra, a name bound to timeless myths, is treated here as a mirror for human longing and the cost of pursuing liberty. The work centers on a woman who experiences love as a path to emancipation, yet her agency is tempered by the weight of guilt that accompanies desire. The staging presents these themes with a contemporary sensibility that invites reflection on how freedom is earned, experienced, and perceived.
In this updated interpretation, the core figure from Greek mythology remains the focal point, but the production breathes with new energy. The director, Xavier Monzo, guides the piece with Tomas Mestre Damia shaping the overall vision. The cast features Virtu Ribera as Phaedra, Row Carbonel portraying a nurse, Juan Vicente Garrigos as Theseus, and Sergio de Lara stepping into the role of Hippolytus. The ensemble work together to explore the fragility and resilience of longing under the gaze of fate and societal expectations.
A notable shift in this edition is the replacement of multiple choruses with a symbolic character who carries thematic weight throughout the performance. This narrative device, embodied by Natalie Bravo, offers a streamlined yet potent vessel for commentary and mood, allowing the audience to engage with the drama through a singular interpretive lens.
Culture and tourism intertwine in this festival, which began within the inland areas of Alicante province in 2012 and later embraced a broader identity. In 2015 it was rebranded as Festival de la Cantera, signaling a renewal that opened doors to a wider range of productions and groups. The event has since become a cultural beacon in the region.
By 2016 the festival expanded beyond exclusive collaborations, welcoming other companies and actively engaging younger audiences. This expansion gave rise to the Young Classical Theater Festival, a section devoted to groups from various institutes across the province of Alicante, fostering new talent and fresh interpretations of classical texts.
Over the years, the program has featured a range of tragedies such as Antigone, Elektra, Medea, and other dramatic works from the Euripidean canon, alongside comedic pieces and contemporary adaptations that speak to modern sensibilities while honoring ancient roots.
Tickets to the festival can be purchased through the official ticketing platform. (Citation: Entradas360).