All cultural activities are suspended due to the alert for torrential rain in Catalonia

BarcelonaThe alert due to the risk of torrential rain and a "Mediterranean mini-hurricane" has forced theaters, cinemas, concert halls, and festivals in about twenty regions to cancel the activities scheduled for this Saturday starting at eight in the evening, in accordance with the resolution published by the Interior Department. The affected regions are Alt Empordà, Alt Penedès, Baix Empordà, Baix Llobregat, Barcelonès, Garraf, Garrotxa, Gironès, Maresme, Pla de l'Estany, Selva, Vallès Occidental, Vallès Oriental, Alt Camp, Baix Camp, Baix Penedès, Osona, Ripollès, Tarragonès, and Moianès.

In Barcelona, the resolution affects the city's 150 theater halls and 25 cinemas. Among the performances scheduled for this Saturday afternoon were El cadell, at the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya; The cheerful pessimism, at the Sala Beckett; The omelet, at the Teatre Poliorama; Mamma mia, at the Teatre Tívoli, and The Threepenny Opera and Doing 'The Beautiful Helen' at the Teatre Lliure. This theater, moreover, was supposed to celebrate its 50th-anniversary party this Saturday evening, which it has had to cancel. Performances at venues such as the Mercat de les Flors, the four Focus theaters – Goya, Romea, Condal, and La Villarroel – and the Biblioteca de Catalunya have also been affected by the resolution. Most theaters will offer the public the option to attend an alternative performance or to have their ticket money refunded.

"Saturday is the day of the week with the most performances. The impact is huge," states the president of the Association of Theater Companies of Catalonia (Adetca), Isabel Vidal, who laments that culture "is the first to close." The situation this Saturday is reminiscent of the cultural closures and restrictions that took place during the pandemic. "If the resolution aims to avoid citizen mobility, we do not understand why commercial activity is maintained while, on the other hand, cultural activity is canceled. There are more people in a shopping mall than in all the independent theater halls in Barcelona," states Vidal. For all these reasons, Adetca is in talks with the Ministry of Culture. "The information is serious; we have no choice but to obey the government and suspend. But we must look for formulas so that it affects the sector as little as possible," says Vidal.

Concerts and festivals, suspended

The Gran Teatre del Liceu has cancelled this Saturday's performance of Aida and Sunday's The young Aida, and the Palau de la Música had to cancel the Tribut a Dire Straits, by Sultans of Swing. At the Auditori, the activities of the Toca Festa day were maintained until six o'clock and the The colors of metal performance, but both the OBC's Orchestra tasting on Saturday afternoon and the one on Sunday morning have been cancelled. Likewise, the Music Museum will be closed until Sunday at two in the afternoon. Among the concerts scheduled for this Saturday afternoon that have been suspended are the performances by Placebo at the Sant Jordi Club and Hombres G at the Palau Sant Jordi.

Outdoor events have also been cancelled, such as the circus show The neighbor on the balcony, which was to be performed at Plaça Lluís Millet, right in front of the Palau de la Música. The performance—for which a new date will be sought—was part of the Interruptions cycle promoted by La Central del Circ.

The Petits Camaleons festival in Sant Cugat del Vallès has suspended its Saturday and Sunday concerts due to the risk of flooding. Groups such as Els Pets, La Ludwig Band, Els Amics de les Arts, and Sidonie were scheduled. The activities of the La Palanca festival in Esparreguera have also been cancelled.