Catalonia's most renowned comedy festival comes of age.

Fig treesEaster is approaching, and with it comes the big comedy event in Catalonia, with Figueres as its capital. The former Comic Festival is changing its name to a more concise version of what and where it is: Humor Figueres. "When the festival was founded, there weren't the number of events dedicated to the world of comics that there are now. Eighteen years ago, it was easy to associate the Comic Festival with comedy, but today the name is very confusing," explains Xavier Valentí, one of the two co-directors. "The name change was something we considered years ago because we saw that it was confusing and that some people thought it was the festival." of the comic and not the Comic Festival," adds Agustí Custey, the other co-director. "The word festival We no longer need it and the people of Catalonia appreciate it more," says Valentí.

This will be the eighteenth edition of a festival that, according to Custey, "is very well established." "Eighteen years are already starting to give you a boost; if it hadn't worked, you wouldn't have gotten this far. The foundations are solid, and people have embraced it. There's a very loyal audience that welcomes surprises, and that's great." This year, it will be held from April 17 to 20, with a sign which makes pachoca. "Programming is always the sum of many nodes, maybes and yeses. This is surely one of the best programs we've ever done. There are a handful of artists, especially in the international field, that are frightening," explains Valentí. "This year a series of circumstances have come together, since when you work with international companies it's not always easy or possible to get them to come, because travel is increasingly expensive, and with shows that require some stagecraft, the costs rise significantly, especially if they're from outside Europe," adds Custey.

Premieres in Catalonia

Among these international artists, for the third time, the Australian duo The Umbilical Brothers will perform, who will premiere their latest show in Catalonia, The distraction"It's a Champions League proposal. They're artists who sweep all the theaters in the major world capitals where they perform," says Valentí. Another proposal, which will also premiere in Catalonia, is Famous puppet dead scenes, by the Canadian company The Old Trout, a puppet show for adults. A chilling parade of theatrical deaths that will satisfy the darkest part of viewers. "It's a highly original proposal, and the company, within the world of puppetry, is world-class. We're proud to be able to present them," says Custey. "And they come with the collaboration and support of the Canada Council for the Arts, a very welcome coincidence," adds Valentí.

The international scene is also represented by the Irish company Squarehead Productions, which will premiere its show in Catalonia The whistle II. "Being able to lead this company is incredible, a combination that doesn't always happen. And it gives us a lot of encouragement, because when international cultural support organizations ask their artists for grants to come to the Figueres festival, they look at the website and realize it's an investment they should make, and that's a huge endorsement for us," says Valentí. "There are international artists who offer good comedy, but there aren't that many. It's not like in music, for example, where there's much more choice and variety; the list is endless. And of course, these artists meet at festivals around the world and talk to each other about, 'I'm here, we've been there,' a lot because it means we've put Figueres on the world comedy map," adds Custey.

The international representation is completed by the Belgian company Midnight, which will perform a show of acrobatics and juggling on the Rambla de Figueres.

Humor for all audiences

The organizers are also pleased with the country's programming. Majorcan artist Clara Ingold will bring her award-winning show to Figueres. Park pigeon and Impro Barcelona the work Murder at the clubThere's also a strong representation of stand-up comedians for Micro's Comedy evenings. "With the addition of Irene Minovas, we have many of the current Catalan artists: Tomás Fuentes, Albert Floyd, Ana Polo, Oye Sherman, and Andrés Fajngold. Aside from their quality and originality, it's not common to hear people from South America speak Catalan. A South American who can do comedy in Catalan is...

The festival will close on Sunday with The Great Musical Bingo, who, after triumphing at the Teatre Victòria, will bring a repertoire of 90 legendary songs from all styles and eras that will be performed live.

As always, much of the programming is free and highlights include Pere Hosta with his street show for all audiences. Woof, the premiere of BZZZ Brigade from the Kabuts company, and You (We) from the Belgian company Midnight, and workshops like Laughter therapy, the Ilaughter oga and several talks, including one on the magazine's controversial humor Thursday and that of Xavier Vicens, Vicentadas, a man who is not an actor but a retired undertaker with a very fine sense of humor and a privileged vision of human nature, the result of his professional activity.

There will also be the show Jokes with Figuerean DNA, an enrichment project for students at the IES Ramon Muntaner, in which they delve into the jokes that appeared in the Figueres Fair programs of the 1950s and 1960s, sponsored by the city's businesses and industries.