Two instigators of Alicante culture. The cycle carries the mission of highlighting Luis de Castro and Carlos Mateo as pivotal figures in the city’s cultural life during the transitional years that shaped Alicante. The program is built to reclaim and reinterpret their contributions, presenting a focused look at how their work influenced the city’s artistic landscape.
The events continue inside the venue at the University of Alicante on San Fernando street, with the first session scheduled for Wednesday, March 1, starting at 20:15. The evening opens the program under the coordination of Antonio Sempere, whose aim is to present a compelling justification for recognizing two important names in the history of Alicante during the transition. The format blends talks, archival material, and interviews designed to illuminate the enduring impact of these cultural figures on the city and its creative communities.
Who was Luis de Castro The program presents a portrait of a playwright and theater director who helped shape the region’s stage history. The Teatro Principal de Alicante, under director Juan Luis Mira, led a transformative era from the mid 1980s through the early 2000s. The venue, which first opened its doors to the public in 1984, saw a period of renewal and reinvigoration that positioned it as a national benchmark for sophisticated programming. The theatre’s revival in the early 1990s, with renewed strength and a forward-looking repertoire, marked a turning point in Alicante’s performing arts scene.
The purpose of the session dedicated to Carlos Mateo is to take place on Monday, March 6, with journalist José María Perea Soro as the speaker. Mateo’s role in Alicante culture is traced through his leadership of cultural and educational initiatives. As the guiding force behind the Mediterranean Cultural and Artistic Center, a project linked to the regional savings bank, he helped cultivate a rich, top-tier programming tradition that attracted renowned intellectuals and artists from both national and international circuits. The aim is to demonstrate how Mateo’s efforts created spaces where culture could flourish and where audiences could experience high-quality artistic work.
The cycle continues to organize conversations and debates that situate these figures within the broader currents of mid to late 20th century and early 21st century Spanish culture. It explores how public institutions, venue spaces, and cultural programming collaborated to support a thriving arts scene in Alicante. Through conversations with historians, critics, and artists, the program seeks to offer a nuanced understanding of the period, highlighting the challenges, achievements, and lasting influence of these two leaders on the city’s cultural identity.