Leandre Ribera wins the National Circus Prize

BarcelonaThe clown and stage director Leandre Ribera (Barcelona, 1966) was awarded this Thursday with the National Circus Prize, which is granted by the Ministry of Culture and is endowed with 30,000 euros. The jury awarded it to him "for the generosity of sharing his knowledge with the new generations of artists, bringing a unique and sensitive look to the stage". In particular, his direction stands out in productions such as Gota, by Txema Muñoz, which will be seen at the National Theatre of Catalonia starting October 15; Triplette, created with LaBú Teatre; Woof, with Pere Hosta, and U.F.A., with Cristina Solé. Ribera has worked primarily in the field of clowning and has contributed, according to the jury, in "works that celebrate the excellence of gestural humor and make visible the importance of the gaze in the circus".

In fact, the clown is a great reference for clowning and gestural theater internationally. He has worked with classical circus, contemporary circus, and street performances and has been an influence for the new generations of clowns. "For many years he has worked with a mixture of comic precision, rhythm, and poetry of objects," highlights the ministry. Among Ribera's most notable shows are Leandre, Fragile and Madame et monsieur, which he carried out together with the dancer Claire Ducreux, with whom he walked a professional path for years. In 2014, to keep the figure of the traditional clown alive, Ribera promoted Démodés with the company La Tal.

Throughout his career, Leandre Ribera has been recognized with numerous awards, such as the City of Barcelona Circus Prize (2014), the Zirkòlika Prize (2013), and the National Circus Prize for the show Rodó, a production of the Winter Circus of the Ateneu Popular de Nou Barris co-directed with Teresa Celis. Before Ribera, other Catalan clowns have been awarded the National Circus Prize, among them Tortell Poltrona (2013) and Pepa Plana (2022). It has also been received by the Fira Trapezi de Reus (2012) and Manolo Alcántara (2021).