Memories of stage life and the enduring durability of theater equipment and creation come together in Alicante as the seventh edition of the José Estruch Awards honors the memory of a director and professor from the city who collaborated with many in the local scene. The ceremony highlights the best on stage from the past season at Alicante Teatro Manager’s, a hub for performance and memory alike.
A commemorative moment was marked during the event as the passion for theater was celebrated by Guillermo Heras, a prominent figure in the performing arts who has directed for nearly three decades. The Spanish Theater Exhibition from Contemporary Writers took stock of those who passed away in the last year, including a special tribute to events held at Llantia. The tribute was presented by Deputy Director Maria Dolores Padilla, with her sister Maria Fernanda Heras in attendance. She spoke with emotion about a life devoted to theater and the work that filled it, noting that the art form lives in those who continue to create and perform.
This year’s premiere welcomed support from the audience, with Padilla underscoring that the theater could not exist without its actors and creators. The evening wove a dreamlike journey through sound and memory, featuring Dani Katala and his band, trumpets from Óscar Espl Conservatory of Music, and the aerial dance company Subsky, whose performances added a vivid layer to the evening.
In a spirit of innovation, the seventh edition invited winners to respond to questions from a couch, a playful format that momentarily slows the pace yet invites deeper reflection on the evolution of studies and the sensations created by the works. The opening act on the couch included Alcoyan choreographer Sol Picó, honored for decades of contribution to Valencian Community performing arts with a career spanning more than thirty years and international stages. Picó remarked that it was a pleasure to sustain energy in an environment where culture often contends with visibility, and she affirmed that the drive to keep culture alive remains strong and affectionate among artists.
During the proceedings, eleven players from the Ladies Football Club—Alicia González, Ana Rayo, Andrea Guasch, Belén González, Carla Hidalgo, Diana Palazón, Irene Maquieira, Noemí Arribas, María Pascual, Nur Levi, and Xenia Reguant—presented a film recounting the emergence of the first women’s football teams in England, a story tied to the endurance of sport and art in wartime. They used the couch moment to defend the idea that teamwork is essential to recognition. Gratitude was extended to llàntia for its support of a production that has only two performances left, highlighting the work’s commitment and the effort poured into its making by many hands.
The Estruchs then returned to the theater stage with several notable moments. Pedro Casablanca from Ilàntia, recognized for best leading actress, expressed thoughts on not receiving the award due to shooting commitments in Bilbao, a project he also directed. He offered a lighthearted reflection in a video that directing theater is ultimately about listening to the actor and responding to what they present on stage. The director’s focus remained on the actor’s performance and the collaborative nature of creation.
Alberto San Juan received recognition for best directing and shared his gratitude for the award. In a piece exploring disability, some of the production’s strongest moments were brought to life by actors, and Pablo Sánchez praised San Juan as a teacher who inspires pride both inside and out for participating in a project that challenges conventional storytelling.
Vanessa Montfort, honored for best writing for Co-pilot syndrome, spoke about Guillermo Heras’s shared award for translating works by writers who collaborated during the pandemic. She recalled a dream that cinemas would reopen, a wish that art would persevere as a form of resistance and resilience in difficult times. Her reflections underscored how the arts can persist and provide hope even when doors are momentarily closed.
Mireia Portas, recognized for best leading actress for Lina Lamont Sings in the Rain, also received the Talía Award for best actress in a musical. Portas expressed gratitude for a performance that delivered a vibrant, adaptable portrayal while remaining faithful to a character who refuses to concede to changing trends. Her work brought Alicante theater to a wide audience across forty-four performances in a single season, a testament to her energy and craft.
Finally, the best show category honored Holy Innocents, a production by GG Stage Production and Nómada Theater. The jury highlighted a piece that remains highly relevant in the twenty-first century for its deep reflection on social evils and its enduring commitment to social justice, underscoring the power of theater to provoke thought and action in contemporary society.
The Estruchs return to the theater
The celebration carried a sense of return and renewal. Pedro Casablanca expressed disappointment at not receiving the award due to schedule conflicts in Bilbao but shared a gracious message about the actor’s script shaping the director’s decisions. The moment reinforced a core truth about collaborative artistry: the director’s job is to support and illuminate the actor’s voice, rather than to overshadow it. The mood remained one of mutual respect and artistic curiosity as the evening progressed.
Alberto San Juan’s acceptance spoke to gratitude for a project that challenges expectations. The performance highlighted ideas about disability that resonated with audiences and cast members alike. A cast member praised San Juan as a mentor in a production that leaves a lasting impression on those who witness it.
Vanessa Montfort reminded everyone of the collaboration that helped bring the piece to life during a difficult period. Guillermo Heras shared the award with the performers who translated and assembled works during the pandemic. The sentiment rang clear: art endures, even when doors to cinema or theatre momentarily close. It is a reminder that culture thrives when people rally behind it with shared purpose and creative courage.
Mireia Portas’s acclaim for her leading role and the musical’s success demonstrated how a single performer can anchor a production, guiding audiences through a journey from rain to revelation. The awards also showcased the strength of the Valencian Community’s theatre ecosystem, where artists continually push boundaries and challenge expectations to keep audiences engaged and inspired. The night closed with a strong note about teamwork, resilience, and the enduring value of the performing arts in society.