In recent times, culture has acquired commercial value and has become, more and more, pure spectacle, pure entertainment. The theatre, as a metaphor for life and the society that produces it, must continue to play an active role in the construction of our society. However, it will only achieve this by establishing an intense dialogue with the other elements that reflect and transform that society. These debates, which will feature a conversation between a theatre artist and a guest from another field, will explore such concepts as: the independence of the theatre and culture from politics; the theatre’s commitment to the welfare state; and the frontiers between artistic and intellectual rigour and commercial aspects of culture.
The participants in the debates will be personalities from the world of culture, the media and science, such as Rafael Argullol, Juan Villoro, Susan George, Ruth Mackenzie and Emmanuel Hoog, alongside such playwrights and theatre directors as Xavier Albertí, Andrés Lima, José Luis Gómez, Ivo van Hove Patrice Chéreau and Ramon Simó, amongst others.
Further information:
www.institutdelteatre.org
www.bitbarcelona.com
Calendar of sessions:
Wednesday, July 3
Teatre Ovidi Montllor
6 pm Official opening, attended by: Llucià Homs, director of Promoció de Sectors Culturals, Barcelona City Council; Jordi Font, director of the Theatre Institute; Ramon Simó, director of the Grec Festival of Barcelona; Daniel Martínez, president of Barcelona Internacional Teatre; and Vicenç Villatoro, director of the Institut Ramon Llull.
Dialogue with Susan George and Xavier Albertí
“Theatre narrative and the cultural crisis: between politics and spectacle”
8 pm Dialogue with Rafael Argullol and Oriol Broggi
“Theatrical aesthetic and politics: theatre outside the theatre”
Friday, July 5
Institut del Teatre - Auditorium
10.30 am Dialogue with Antonio Monegal and Ivo van Hove
“Ethics and theatre: the role of artists in a society in crisis”
Thursday, July 11
Institut del Teatre - Auditorium
6.30 pm Dialogue with Juan Villoro and Andrés Lima
“The limits of theatre: origins of narratives”
8 pm Dialogue with Abdolreza Tajik and José Sanchis Sinisterra
“Theatre and freedoms”
Wednesday, July 17
Institut del Teatre - Auditorium
6.30 pm Dialogue with Ruth Mackenzie and Àlex Rigola
“The theatre as a metaphor of globalisation”
8 pm Dialogue with Emmanuel Hoog and Laurie Sansom
“The theatre and society: in search of audiences”
Monday, July 22
Teatre Ovidi Montllor
6.30 pm Dialogue with Michael Billington and Ramon Simó
“Theatre and entertainment: is a mainstream culture possible?”
Friday, July 26
Teatre Ovidi Montllor
12 noon Dialogue with Jordi Coca and Claudio Tolcachir
“Theater and politics”
Admission free, limited to the capacity of the Sala Ovidi Montllor and the Theatre Institute auditorium.
Registration: info@bitbarcelona.com
