VIII Festival de Artes Escénicas de La Alpujarra Me Vuelves Lorca

Start date

04/08/2023

End date

06/08/2023

Place

El Teatro de Las Eras

The VIII Festival de Artes Escénicas de La Alpujarra Me Vuelves Lorca returns after a year's hiatus to catch its breath and recover from the challenges of the pandemic. It will celebrate its eighth edition with a "bonsai" programme of four shows, which this year will have a special symbolism, as it coincides with the tenth anniversary of the project's inception. The Festival takes place in Laroles (Nevada), a village of about 600 inhabitants in the heart of La Alpujarra. It takes place every summer in a beautiful stone theatre that was built by the local community in 2013 and is part of the award-winning social development project, "A Theatre Among Us".

The Festival is inspired by the figure of the Granada poet and playwright, Federico García Lorca, and his desire to bring theatre to rural areas of Spain. The performances begin at sunset and end under a starry backdrop, making this festival renowned for the quality of its programme and the beauty of its setting.

In a year that represents both a new beginning and a celebration of past achievements, it's maybe no surprise that the Festival's programme, under the title "El suspiro de lo nuevo" (The Sigh of the New), seeks to explore the relationship between past and present, the fusion between the classic and the modern. The title takes its inspiration from Lorca's poem "El Presentimiento" (The Premonition), which reflects on the transience of life and the eternal search for renewal.

This year, we'll continue to explore and foster dialogue on the delicate topic of Spain's 'Historical Memory' with the performance of the play "Señor B. Algunos desastres de una guerra" (Mr B. The Disasters of a War). Based on a personal, true story, it's a reflection on how the open wound of the Spanish Civil War is still impacting Spain's younger generations. The play, which after its success in the Madrid SURGE Festival has received praise from critics and public alike, marks Spanish actor Juanma Díez Diego's debut as a a playwright.

The internationally acclaimed, Argentinian guitarist and composer, Fernando Egozcue, returns to Laroles this year, seven years after his first appearance at the Festival in 2016 alongside actor Alberto San Juan. This year, he will be back with his quintet, the Fernando Egozcue Ensamble, in what promises to be an unforgettable experience. Fernando's music draws on both his Argentine roots and his classical training as well as more contemporary influences, like jazz. The results are breathtaking: a vibrant fusion of the rhythm and emotion of tango with the creative vitality of modern jazz. A date for the diaries!

Our programme draws to a close with a double dose of theatre and comedy, with two shows focused on attracting new audiences to the Festival. The young theatre company from Valencia, LEAMŎK, will kick things off with their highly creative show "Lázaro", which is written and performed by emerging talent, Spanish actor Roberto del Hoyo. It's an original take on the classical Spanish novel, "El Lazarillo de Tormes", written in 1554, that replaces the novel's formal language with elements of rap and breakdance with a view to overcoming barriers and attracting a younger audience to theatre.

Once again, wildly popular Madrid theatre company, Jamming Compañia, will bring the eighth edition of Me Vuelves Lorca to a close. Diehard supporters of the Festival from its very beginnings, no edition would be complete without a dose of improvised theatre to end the Festival on a high note.

However, behind the fun and laughter, Jamming plays a fundamental role in the Festival. For many in the local community, Jamming's shows are their first introduction to theatre, and as such, we consider them a crucial tool for nurturing new audiences. They also represent our modern tribute to the improvised poems or "trovos" that were sung in the theatre back in the days when it functioned as a threshing floor. As you can see, at Me vuelves Lorca, we take comedy very seriously!

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