Time was time, the schedules for stage shows and musicals barely matched those of public transport. It was an unwritten rule. Thus, in cities like Barcelona, they frequented events that started at 10:30 p.m. and ended just before the last metro line arrived. Little by little, theaters and concert halls moved their schedules forward, but on an individual basis, without any structural plan. The National Theater of Catalonia (TNC) was one of the first venues to move up the start time of performances. "In the 2006-2007 season, we went from 9 p.m. to 8 p.m., and we didn't have any problems," recalls Mònica Campos, executive director of the TNC. Ten years later, in the 2017-2018 season, and in response to requests from some audience members, the theater decided that Wednesday performances would begin at 7 p.m. Once again, the test was successful and the audience's acceptance was "total." According to Campos, the goal is to adapt to the European reality, and for the earlier schedules to be part of a broader strategy to facilitate work-life balance and put an end to very long working days. "It's the other countries that are doing it right," he says. In fact, 7 p.m. is one of the standard times on European stages. Step by step, the TNC has deepened this trend: in 2019, they moved Saturday performances to 7 p.m., and for the 2020-2021 season, Friday performances as well. That is, only on Thursdays will it maintain 8 p.m. (and on Sundays, 6 p.m.). The experience has been positive and has not negatively impacted employment.

Today is that day of the year when the clock robs us of an hour of sleep: at 2 AM we will jump straight to 3 AM to welcome daylight saving time. The time change is made just one week after the official start of spring in order to make better use of daylight hours and save energy. It is, however, a practice under debate that could be on its way out. In fact, the decision on whether to abolish it or not should have been taken in 2021 but, of course, the pandemic has altered everything. For the moment, the experts have not agreed on the matter.