Greek 2025: The shows you can't miss

BarcelonaEl Grec is about to explode. From June 26 to July 31, the festival will fill Barcelona with theater, circus, dance, music, readings, and performances with a good handful of international and local talent. Among the 90 proposals in this edition, the first directed by Letícia MartínWe've selected some of the most prominent names that can serve as a guide for anyone looking for shows that will surprise, thrill, and delight in one of the summer's most important cultural events.

Five international names

'Faustus in Africa!', by William Kentridge and the Handspring Puppet Company

June 27 and 28 at the Teatre Lliure

The South African William Kentridge brings to Barcelona a new version of this show, which premiered in 1995 and which places the Splendor Goethe's work in Africa. Kentridge's signature drawings, live actors, puppets, and animations merge on stage in a visually captivating story with one of the world's leading puppet companies. Show in English with Catalan subtitles.

'Ihsane', by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui

July 11 and 12 at the Teatre Grec

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui is one of the most important international choreographers on the current scene. He has been to the Grec twice (in 2010 and 2013), but this year he is coming for the first time with the company of which he is artistic director. 2012.

'The Brotherhood', by Carolina Bianchi and Cara de Cavalo

July 11 and 12 at the Teatre Lliure

Two years ago, Brazilian Carolina Bianchi burst into Barcelona with a performance about sexual violence that left the Lliure audience reeling. Now, the creator is bringing the second part of that trilogy to the Grec. She stars in the production, alongside eight men on stage, and approaches trauma and assault from the male perspective. The performance is in Portuguese with Catalan and English subtitles.

'My Fierce Ignorant Step' by Christos Papadopoulos

July 12 and 13 at the Mercat de les Flors

Attending a performance by Greek choreographer Christos Papadopoulos means entering a wonderful universe filled with poetic and dazzling images. It's an experience that's hard to put into words, because it's experienced with the body. On this occasion, the choreographer wants the dancers' bodies to connect with the audience's bodies to stage the passionate beginnings. A performance without words.

'Medea's Kinderen', by Milo Rau and NTGent

July 21 and 22 at the Teatre Lliure

A regular on Catalan stages, in this new show, Belgian Milo Rau delves into the myth of Medea with a troupe of child performers. The challenge is enormous: based on classical tragedy, Rau makes children reflect on family history, first love, first contact with death, fear, and injustice. Show in Dutch with Catalan subtitling.

Five Discoveries

'NO (spectacle to come)', by La Venidera

July 4 and 5 at the Teatre Lliure

Remember these names: Irene Tena and Albert Hernández, disciples of Marcos Morau And until recently, dancers and soloists from the Spanish National Ballet embark on their own unique stage adventure with this show featuring flamenco and Spanish dance. The piece explores the relationship between tradition and contemporaneity with first-rate artistic material. Show in Spanish.

'The Hours', by Michael Cunningham and Eline Arbo

From July 4 to 6 at the National Theatre of Catalonia

Norwegian Eline Arbo makes her debut in Barcelona with a promising stage version of the novel The hours by Michael Cunningham. The production recreates the first day Virginia Woolf began to write Mrs. Dalloway Through two female characters and an original circular set that reproduces the different corners of a house. The show is presented in Dutch with Catalan subtitles.

'A brief introduction to the dismissal of the county route through the rear arch door', by Marc Salicrú and Teatres de Campanya

July 5 and 6 at the Arc de Triomphe

The multifaceted Marc Salicrú aims to generate a chaotic, epic, and utopian hurricane in the middle of the Arc de Triomphe. The creator has teamed up with municipal workers, musicians, tourists, and citizens for this crazy urban concert proposal that invites everyone to celebrate. This is the only street theater production of the festival.

'Moeder Courage', by Bertolt Brecht, in a version by Lisaboa Houbrechts and with the KVS

July 16 and 17 at the Teatre Lliure

One of the new directors of the Grec is Belgian choreographer Lisaboa Houbrechts, who will be appearing at the festival for the first time. The artist presents an interesting version of Mother Courage by Brecht with original music and songs by Paul Dessau and one of Belgium's leading companies, the KVS in Brussels. Multilingual performance with Catalan subtitling.

'Mami', by Mario Banushi

July 22 and 23 at the Mercat de les Flors

He's only 26 years old, but Mario Banushi, of Albanian origin and trained in Greece, is already considered one of the most promising artists on the contemporary European stage. Shortly before the Avignon Festival, Banushi is bringing this production to Barcelona, inspired by his mother, who walked to Greece in search of work when he was six years old. A speechless performance.

Five Catalan theater performances

'You Promised Me a Love Story', by Helena Tornero, directed by Israel Solà

From June 26 to July 27 at the Sala Beckett

The show resulting from Helena Tornero's residency at the Sala Beckett is a comedy that questions the nature of love stories. Why do some find them fascinating and others repulsed? What have they taught us? "I want to reflect on the possibility or impossibility of writing love stories today," said Tornero. in an interview with ARA. Show in Catalan.

'The Tempest', by William Shakespeare, directed by Oriol Broggi

From June 26 to July 27 at the Library Theater

For many years, the actor Lluís Soler has pursued the role of Prospero, the protagonist of The storm Shakespeare's. Now he's achieved it with a powerful staging led by Oriol Broggi, which has all the ingredients of La Perla 29's theater: sand, light, and actors, all in their essence, to bring out the text of one of the great classics of theater. The show is in Catalan.

'Who Killed My Father', by Édouard Louis, directed by Pau Roca

July 1, 2, and 3 at the Heartbreak Hotel

Dafnis Balduz takes the stage alone to perform one of the most powerful texts by French writer Édouard Louis. Who killed my father It's a young man's monologue with his father, an alcoholic who suffered a work-related accident and has been in a wheelchair ever since. The show is in Catalan.

'Gigante', by Mark Rosenblatt, directed by Josep Maria Mestres

From July 9 to August 3 at the Teatre Romea

Roald Dahl's literature is sensational, but so is his life. That's why American playwright Mark Rosenblatt turned the writer's life into a play, now portrayed by Josep Maria Pou under the direction of Josep Maria Mestres. Giant presents Dahl at one of the most controversial moments of his career: when he published an anti-Semitic article and had to choose between apologizing or jeopardizing his career. Show in Catalan.

'Historia del amor' (Love Story), by Agrupación Señor Serrano

From July 18 to 20 at the Teatre Lliure de Gràcia

The Señor Serrano Group returns to its roots – shows that combine objects, miniatures, cameras, and projections – to delve into love. performer Anna Pérez Moya tells a story (supposedly her own) on stage that invites reflection on the search for love and everything that entails. The show is available in Catalan and English.

Five unique performances

'Save the last dance for me', by Alessandro Sciarroni

June 29th at the Atrium of the Institut del Teatre

There are only six people in the world who know how to dance to the almost extinct polka chinata, a dance that men in Bologna performed in pairs to impress women. Creator Alessandro Sciarroni has convinced two of his dancers to bring it to the stage with a show based on repeating the dance until exhaustion.

'PICASSa', by Lorena Nogal

July 6 and 7 at the Picasso Museum

Awarded the National Dance Prize and considered one of the best dancers in the country, Barcelona-born Lorena Nogal is one of the star performers of La VeronalNow, the dancer embarks on a solo career with this unique proposal from the Grec: creating a dance piece inspired by Picasso's visual ruptures and performing it, precisely, surrounded by the artist's works in his museum.

'The Veil of the Temple', by John Taverner, with Simon Halsey and the Orfeó Català

July 12 at the shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

There are events that only happen once in a lifetime: The Veil of the Temple is one of them. More than 180 singers will gather in this Eixample church to perform John Taverner's (1944-2013) masterpiece, a highly complex choral piece rarely heard in such an unusual setting as the shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Diagonal, 42).

'Manual for Living Beings', by La Mula

July 17 and 18 at the CCCB Theater

After leaving the public and critics speechless with Thauma, the La Mula company is taking on a new theatrical challenge. This time, it has decided to incorporate words into its magnetic visual universe of everyday objects. Words will be the protagonists of a play-based piece filled with humorous touches. Performance in Catalan.

'People Watching', by Play Dead

July 28 and 29 at the Mercat de les Flors

Acrobatics and physical theater merge in this show by Canadian company Play Dead, one of the most prominent in the country.

'Corset', by Clara Peya

July 3 at the Teatre Grec

Clara Peya closes the album tour Corset With a concert that has its own unique setting and is designed as a unique show. The artist will be accompanied on stage by dancers, a heart, and special collaborations for this musical, in which his sister and artistic partner, Ariadna Peya, will also participate.

'In a Landscape', by Max Richter

July 15 at the Teatre Grec

Max Richter's minimalist music will resonate at the Teatre Grec with a performance laden with political and social significance. In the landscape seeks balance regarding the role that men should play in this sick world. The Blue Notebooks (2004), which has been reissued this year.

Marina Satti and Maria

July 20 at Paral·lel 62

They are two talented artists who will meet on the same stage for the first time. Marina Satti is considered one of Greece's most promising singers and represented the country in last year's Eurovision Song Contest. Valencian singer La Maria will present the album Robina, an intimate and powerful album that reaffirms her as one of the most notable voices of the Catalan Countries.

'Pau Riba: Dioptria, 55', directed by Caïm Riba

July 22 at the Teatre Grec

Friends, family and colleagues of Pau Riba will gather on the stage of the Teatre Grec to pay tribute to the musician, who died two years ago. One of his sons, Caïm Riba, orchestrates the show, which will feature extensive participation from artists and groups, such as Ivette Nadal, Ludwig Band, Pascal Comelade, Roger Mas, Rita Payés and Pol Batlle.

'The Night of the Alto Musician', by Indio Gesto, the Barcelona Municipal Band and José Rafael Pascual-Vilaplana

July 25 at the Teatre Grec

Musical lovers know they'll have at least one night to themselves every year at the Grec. This year, the task of organizing a special evening featuring this genre has fallen to Indi Gest, the company led by Jordi Oriol. On stage, musicians and singers will explore the origins of the musical in a show that promises to be incredibly entertaining.

Five family shows

'Le Petit Cirque', by Marie and Yoann Bourgeois

From June 26th to 28th at the Teatre Grec. Ages 8 and up.

The Grec's opening show is a newly created piece created specifically for the festival and designed to appeal to as many people as possible (and for children ages 8 and up). "We chose this show with the aim of reaching as many people as possible. It marks the beginning of an edition founded on networking," said the director. The Little Circus Reflects on the seasons of life through visual, sound, and movement landscapes. A textless performance.

'Sardana Superstar', by Arnau Tordera I

From July 2 to 6 at the Teatre Condal. Ages 14 and up.

Arnau Tordera –"a unique artistic piece that Catalonia cannot afford to lose", in his words– fuses musical theater with sardana and copla music in a show that is, above all, one surprise after another. Here, everyone dances the sardana: from Jesus Christ in a cage to executives in ties and astronauts on the moon.

'Genesis', by Oriol Bellvitge

July 11 and 12 at the Teatre Lliure. Audiences between 6 and 12 years old (accompanied by an adult)

Who wants to become a set designer? In this show by Oriol Bellvitge, the audience will decide their set and build it. Through play, the artist aims to encourage children to reflect on the impact of our actions and the consequences on the environment. Depending on their choice, the world can be wonderful or a victim of climate change. Show in Catalan.

'Tenet', by Eunoia Kolektiva

July 11 and 12 at the Mercat de les Flors

Eunoia Kolektiva's circus seeks to amaze and mesmerize audiences through the body. Eight artists on stage will experiment with different perspectives of the same situation to show how, when small details change, everything transforms. The harmony of the figures they project is intended to reflect a selfish world governed by symmetry and demonstrates that perfection is not always positive.

'Forever', by Kulunka Teatro

From July 23 to 27 at the Teatre Condal. Open to young and adult audiences.

The Basque company Kulunka Teatro is an expert at moving and thrilling with textless shows, in which the performers appear masked and the characters' humanity takes center stage. This time, the company explores how a family moves away from what they dreamed of becoming with a piece filled with tenderness, humor, and irony. A show without text.