What's happening in FiraTàrrega?

The fundamental pillars underpinning the FiraTàrrega 2013 programme are breaking new ground, the richness of content and writing, and the international calling of most of the pieces presented. We strive to create an artistic project with a clear democratic vocation, connecting to the people of the city and the fundamental right we all have to access to culture and all that entails.

Inaugural performance: Arts of movement and commitment

The Catalan choreographer and director Toni Mira takes the helm for the festival's inaugural performance, a piece inspired by our most immediate reality, set within the social and political context in which we now live. The central theme of the performance is change. Dance, acrobatics and video are the protagonists of Transforma-T, a large scale production co-produced by FiraTàrrega with the Zaragoza City Council for the 'Fiestas del Pilar' celebrations.

Mexico at FiraTàrrega: Vital theatrical journey

The guest country in 2013 is Mexico. A selection of six exceptional productions will come to Tàrrega, with a combination of street performances, indoor theatre and site-specific pieces. We will have the chance to experience the European premiere of new productions from the great ambassadors of contemporary Mexican theatre: Teatro Línea de Sombra and Teatro de Ciertos Habitantes. We will also present the latest production of the Centro Nacional de Teatro for the very first time on these shores, under the direction of the controversial director Richard Viqueira.  

Street Arts: A stage with infinite artistic possibilities

The fact that Street Arts provide infinite artistic possibilities is underlined by the work of the companies that have taken part in the Creation Support Programme. The productions that we will put on in 2013 share the common goal of breathing fresh life into the current panorama. The protagonists of the most daring space will be the companies that have participated in the Creation Laboratories: Insectotròpics, Joan Català and Macarena Recuerda Shepherd.

Meanwhile, the words of Esteve Soler, the most translated contemporary Catalan playwright, will resound throughout Tàrrega inContra la ciutat in an experience on horseback that blends Visual and Performance Arts. Ârtica is the latest production of the companyPonten Pie, a small-scale experience with great poetic undercurrents. The Italian company Ondadurto Teatro takes centre stage in the most playful part of this section with an ironic and fun approximation of popular tales.

Other essential new productions that should be highlighted in the official street programme include M[u]F by the musician David Moreno, Entre tu i jo by the choreographer Mar Gómez, Abcisse by the creator Jordi Galí, and Carnaval by the Basque company Cielo Raso, which involves the participation of the dancers Igor Calonge, Daniel Abreu and Dácil González. 

Pere Faura, Company Chameleon, the Fundación Collado-Van Hoestenberghe and Ertza, among others, are some of the names that will complete the street programme this year. 

Site-specific theatre: commitment to other stages and creation in unconventional spaces

The site-specific programme includes the Chilean group Teatro del Niño Proletario which returns to Tàrrega with El otro, a performance which recounts a story with a great emotional impact. They are joined by the Balearic company Res de Res, who present their work (remor), a movement piece inspired by the experience of life in a prison cell. The Andalusian company Trasto Teatro will share the experience of a wake in the powerful piece Los satisfechos. Last but not least, the CatalanTxell Roda will present her journey/experience through the work of Manuel Vázquez Montalbán taking on the character of Pepe Carvalho inCarvalho contra Vázquez Montalbán.

Indoor theatre: International vocation

A representative selection of the best dance and circus produced in our country will lead the indoor theatre programme, setting aside some space for the hybrid playwrights. Among the productions on offer, we find illustrious names such as the choreographer and dancer Sol Picó, with the heartfelt, convulsive and hopeful piece Memòries d'una puça, and the clown Leandre who will open the doors of his home to the public with Rien à dire. From Valencia, the group PanicMap take us on their technological adventure Harket [Protocolo]. Meanwhile, Psirc bring us the indoor version of Acrometria and the ever-surprising Zirkus Frak / Jorge Albuerne are sure to astound with the impactful Nomarramón.

The FiraTàrrega Workshops: a door for future creators

The FiraTàrrega 2013 programme is rounded off with the participation of students that take part in the various Street Art training programmes that we run. We will offer four workshops, two of which have been developed by the students of the Master's Degree in Street Arts coordinated by FiraTàrrega and the University of Lleida with the directorsPaul Long ('Metro-Boulot-Dodo') and Ignacio Achurra ('La Patriótico Interesante'). The third workshop has been created by the Catalan artist Ernesto Collado as part of the actor training programme of the CUT (UNAM) in Mexico. Last but not least, we are pleased to announce the debut of In Forma Pauperis by the group Grupo Carro FC, an integrated workshop developed by students of the Theatre Institute as part of the centenary celebrations of this institution.
Paul Long (Metro-Boulot-Dodo)

Company spaces: Involving the sector in the FiraTàrrega project

The FiraTàrrega 2013 programme is rounded off with the presence of other companies and the participation of the following company spaces:23Arts, specialists in Street Art; La maleta d'espectacles, who specialize in performances for family audiences and circus lovers, and the ADGAE space, where the main management and distribution agencies in Spain present a selection of their best pieces.

The opening show: Transforma-T, by Nats Nus (Toni Mira)

Entre tu i jo, by Cia. Mar Gómez