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    <title><![CDATA[Ara in English - Focus]]></title>
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    <description><![CDATA[Ara in English - Focus]]></description>
    <language><![CDATA[es]]></language>
    <ttl>10</ttl>
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      <title><![CDATA[The Teatre Condal premieres "a comedy that works like clockwork"]]></title>
      <link><![CDATA[https://en.ara.cat/culture/the-teatre-condal-premieres-comedy-that-works-like-clockwork_1_5682123.html]]></link>
      <description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://static1.ara.cat/clip/70d67b0e-b53a-4ef0-9a77-d19f9badbb0e_16-9-aspect-ratio_default_1056937.jpg" /></p><p>After <a href="https://en.ara.cat/culture/blood-brothers-very-good-musical-with-fantastic-choreography-by-ariadna-peya_1_5599720.html" target="_blank">the success of the musical </a><a href="https://en.ara.cat/culture/blood-brothers-very-good-musical-with-fantastic-choreography-by-ariadna-peya_1_5599720.html" target="_blank"><em>Blood brothers</em></a>The Condal Theatre in Barcelona will host the comedy from March 19th <em>A brilliant idea,</em> by French author Sébastien Castro, starring Lluís Villanueva, Xavi Mira, Anna Azcona and Susanna Garachana (who also adapted the play), and directed by Xavier Ricart. "I'm especially excited to present <em>A brilliant idea!</em>"Because it contains two elements that make it a very interesting proposition. On the one hand, it's a company with professionals who are true experts in the genre and who have proven they have a firm grasp on the audience. On the other hand, this is a text that can already be considered a comedy classic; it has already triumphed in France and now arrives at the Condal stage," says Daniel Anglès, artistic director of the Teatre Condal, where the play will run until April 19. Xavier Ricart echoes Daniel Susanna Garachana's words regarding his adaptation work. He affirms that he didn't make a mistake with the casting and says he is "happy with the effort" they made, and he is grateful that the Teatre Condal allowed them to work in their space from day one. "It's not easy to do comedy; it requires surrounding yourself with a good team." "The comedy's only message is that people can come and enjoy themselves, have a good time, and forget about what's happening outside," Ricart explains.</p>]]></description>
      <dc:creator><![CDATA[Marc Nofuentes]]></dc:creator>
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      <pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 18 Mar 2026 13:25:25 +0000]]></pubDate>
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      <media:title><![CDATA[A brilliant idea!]]></media:title>
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      <subtitle><![CDATA[Xavier Ricart directs the vaudeville 'A brilliant idea', by Frenchman Sébastien Castro]]></subtitle>
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      <title><![CDATA[Daniel Martínez receives the Gold Medal for Cultural Merit]]></title>
      <link><![CDATA[https://en.ara.cat/culture/daniel-martinez-receives-the-gold-medal-for-cultural-merit_1_5643473.html]]></link>
      <description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://static1.ara.cat/clip/4cd184ec-cfdd-4ee0-8693-c5a2d273c78a_16-9-aspect-ratio_default_0_x712y537.jpg" /></p><p>Daniel Martínez, the founder of the Focus Group, received the Gold Medal for Cultural Merit from the Barcelona City Council on Monday. At a ceremony held in the Saló de Cent, the city's mayor, Jaume Collboni, described Martínez as "a determined and visionary businessman with extraordinary leadership skills." Also in attendance were the Minister of Culture, Sònia Hernández Almodóvar; the Secretary of State for Culture, Jordi Martí; and the Councilor for Culture and Creative Industries, Xavier Marcé. Accompanied by his family and various figures from the world of theater, Martínez expressed his gratitude for the medal and the words dedicated to him by actor and director Josep Maria Pou in his eulogy. According to Collboni, "the name of Daniel Martínez is now forever linked to the contemporary history of Catalan and Barcelonan culture." "Today, Barcelona's public and private theaters are a winning combination. A cultural partnership that has brought more than three million theatergoers to the city annually. And that's thanks to a powerful business sector, capable of investing and taking risks, always keeping the audience's desires in mind. This has been the vision and purpose of the Focus Group."</p>]]></description>
      <dc:creator><![CDATA[Xavier Cervantes]]></dc:creator>
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      <pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:43:17 +0000]]></pubDate>
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      <media:title><![CDATA[Daniel Martínez in the Saló de Cent of Barcelona City Hall after receiving the Gold Medal for Cultural Merit.]]></media:title>
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      <subtitle><![CDATA[The City Council recognizes the career of the founder of the Focus group]]></subtitle>
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      <title><![CDATA[Focus announces its expansion plans: the Genesis school and theatre in Poblenou]]></title>
      <link><![CDATA[https://en.ara.cat/culture/focus-announces-its-expansion-plans-the-genesis-school-and-theatre-in-poblenou_1_5622787.html]]></link>
      <description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://static1.ara.cat/clip/901721eb-9c31-401a-b578-77f7edfc9f34_16-9-aspect-ratio_default_0.jpg" /></p><p>As if it were a major opening night in Catalan theater, some of the biggest names in the scene gathered this Monday evening in a warehouse in Poblenou, at the headquarters of Grup Focus. Seated in a temporary auditorium were renowned directors, playwrights, and actors—such as Lluís Homar, Josep Maria Pou, Jordi Bosch, Guillem Clua, Marta Buchaca, José María Mestres, Joel Juan, Àlex Casanovas, and Pol López—representatives from the business world—the president of PIMEC, Antonio Cañete; the vice president of Fomento, Mar Alarcón; as well as theater managers like Maria José Balañá, Salvador Sunyer, and Toni Albaladejo—and their main institutional representatives—the mayor of Barcelona, ​​Jaume Collboni; the Minister of Culture, Sònia Hernández; and the president, Salvador Illa, who sent his apologies. The event served to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of Grup Focus, the country's leading performing arts company and one of the most important in Spain, but also to unveil its next business move. Focus's expansion involves the opening, in September 2028, of an integrated center for theatrical production and exhibition, which will accommodate up to 600 students at the higher school of performing arts (artists, technicians, and managers) and up to 500 spectators at the new Genesis Theatre.</p>]]></description>
      <dc:creator><![CDATA[Laura Serra]]></dc:creator>
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      <pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 19 Jan 2026 20:11:24 +0000]]></pubDate>
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      <media:title><![CDATA[The presentation of the model of the future Genesis theater by the Focus group in Barcelona.]]></media:title>
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      <subtitle><![CDATA[Forty years after its founding, the company will invest 11 million in transforming its headquarters into a cultural facility.]]></subtitle>
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