Porta’m al Teatre is born, the family theatre day

BarcelonaCatalonia will premiere on November 22nd 'Porta’m al Teatre' (Take me to the Theatre), a day dedicated to the programming of children's and youth theatre. "A few days ago we premiered the excellent viewer data for Catalan theatres. Now we are facing this challenge with the will to generate new audiences," remarked Edgar Garcia, director of the Catalan Institute for Cultural Enterprises, at the presentation event, who made reference to the record figures of more than 4 million spectators in theaters across the country. The initiative, promoted by the Family Commission of Adetca (the Association of Theatre Companies of Catalonia), already counts on the participation of 44 theatres in about thirty municipalities. Porta’m al Teatre will offer 46 shows by 42 different companies with the aim of consolidating itself as an annual event within the Catalan cultural calendar.

"The data from recent years show growth in the family audience and a vitality that fills us with pride," says the president of Adetca, Isabel Vidal. The campaign is part of the First Promotion Plan for theater in Catalonia 2023-2026 of the Government of Catalonia, which consists of nineteen specific measures that aim to promote projects to support artistic creation and production. "Family theater is a gateway to culture that leaves a deep and lasting mark. It goes much further than guaranteeing the generational renewal of the sector," says Vidal.

The programming includes proposals for circus, magic, music, puppetry, and musical theater, among which stand out experiences such as There, at the Mercat de les Flors; Gaudí: the awakening of the genius, at the Teatre Poliorama; Beauty and the Beast, at the Ars Theater in Barcelona, and Paintmusic at the Goya Theatre.

The day will also incorporate participatory activities such as Let's be critics, which will collect the opinions and evaluations of the little ones at home, and We are protagonists, with a red carpet and a photocall after the performance. A professional conference will also be held on November 16th at the SAT! Sant Andreu Teatre in Barcelona, which will bring together performing arts professionals to reflect on the role of theater in children's development. Among the confirmed speakers is the biologist and science communicator David Bueno, the actress Rosa Gàmiz and the art historian Júlia Lull.

"The date for Porta’m al Teatre has been chosen for its proximity to November 20th, International Children's Rights Day," explains Òscar Rodríguez, representative of the Adetca family commission, who has assured that next year's event will be one day earlier, on November 21st.