Theatre and inclusion, the miracle of Juneda

JunedaCulture and social services. Theater and inclusion. Two areas severely lacking in public resources. If we add to this the fact that we're talking about Juneda, a town of 3,500 inhabitants in Les Garrigues, one could say that its continuity (never interrupted) is its greatest success.

The Fomento Theatre, a municipally owned cultural facility Renovated in 2011 with 272 seats, it establishes itself as a space open to culture, creation, performing arts training, and the town's community organizations. This year, 2026, the theater celebrates its tenth anniversary as a venue for regular programming. Under the motto "El Fomento celebrates, El Fomento inspires," the organization asserts itself as a "benchmark for the performing arts in the Ponent region and as a project committed to access to culture in a rural municipality." "Celebrating ten years of regular programming in a town like Juneda is a collective milestone that speaks to a commitment to culture and a project that has grown thanks to the loyal audience that has made it possible," says Ramon Giné, municipal cultural officer and theater programmer. But this decade is accompanied by another, even longer, anniversary. Last January 17th, a performance was staged on the theater's stage. The Comedy is overA new installment of the Juneda Social Incursion project, now in its twelfth year, is presented. It's a transformative theatrical experience featuring vulnerable groups (primarily people with disabilities and senior citizens) who, during the three-month development period, become creators and protagonists.

It all began in 2013 with the creation of the Incursion project in Juneda, a week-long intensive dedicated exclusively to theater professionals from across Spain seeking training in the creative process. Several renowned artists led this workshop, which was a resounding success in its first edition.

The following year, the organizers decided to open the initiative to the public, allowing them to observe its process and results. Valencian choreographer Sol Picó led the workshop that summer, choosing the facilities of Talma, the town's social enterprise that addresses the employment and basic needs of people with disabilities. The reception was so positive that the organizers of Incursión (including Ramon Giné) decided to take the 2015 edition a step further. Following the intensive workshop for theater professionals, another one was held exclusively for the most vulnerable members of the community, not only from Talma, but also from other organizations in the Ponent region.

The project grew larger and larger over the years. Thanks to support from the La Caixa Foundation and the Lleida Provincial Council's Institute of Lleida Studies, the City Council was able to expand this inclusive project into a three-month creative process culminating in a theatrical performance at the theater itself. The professional workshops ceased, but the inclusive ones have continued to this day. At the height of the Social Incursion program, dozens of participants came from up to seven organizations in different regions (such as the Alba Association of Tárrega and El Olivo of Vallbona de les Monges), including not only people with intellectual disabilities, but also elderly residents of municipal nursing homes and young people from all walks of life. It was a social melting pot that interconnected almost perfectly. "It was magical to see how the young people felt responsible for the well-being of the elderly and vice versa," recalls Ramon Giné.

Twelve editions have passed without interruption, with some ups and downs, but with the feeling that simply keeping it going is a success in itself. "Although there are many similar initiatives today, we can say that we are the ones who have had the most continuity," says Giné, who also highlights its high level of professionalism. Furthermore, it has served as a seed for similar initiatives at the national level, such as the one recently launched by Vero Cendoya. at the National Theatre: A brilliant imperfectionA rehearsal featuring actors with diverse abilities. Cendoya, who directed some of the previous editions of Incursión de Juneda, drew on that experience to bring the idea to the National Theater.

The performance, which took place on January 17th at the Teatre Foment in Juneda, not only kicked off the 2026 program but also confirmed the continuation of the inclusive project. While this year's edition was far from the strongest in terms of participation, the organizers celebrate its existence in and of itself. This year's project was once again directed by playwright and cultural manager Albert Aldomà Batlle, with Berta Pipó Canadell and Carla Tovias Gabarró joining as artistic directors. The actors came from Talma and San Juan de Dios - Tierras de Lleida. they staged The Comedy is overA play that tells the story of a company of people with disabilities that is in decline and almost forgotten. A commission from the Liceu will revitalize their activities and bring them back together. For the first time in the history of Incursión Social, the play will leave Juneda and travel to Barcelona on February 26th to inaugurate the Sacudio Festival of Saint John of God.

A season with big names

The 2026 season, which began with Juneda Incursió Social, will continue until May, combining big names, family-friendly shows, humor, music, and performances that connect with social issues. Last Saturday, Catalan comedian Marc Sarrats was one of the highlights, presenting a show... Lean timesA sharp, generational monologue about a world in permanent crisis. In February, music takes center stage with Men in Swing sings SinatraA musical tribute to the great classics of swing and the legendary Frank Sinatra, scheduled for Saturday, February 7. The program also includes performances of great emotional intensity and artistic acclaim, such as Who killed my partnere (February 28), which addresses poverty, social violence, and inequality through a powerful monologue performed by renowned actor Dafnis Balduz. Other internationally acclaimed achievements include A Red Well (March 14) and the documentary and small-format show Youth, from Mambo Project (April 11). The program is rounded out with two highly successful comedies, such as Gothenburg (March 28), with Maria Molins and Roger Coma, and Guilty pleasure (May 16).