Black Side Story is a play that combines sketches, music, and audience interaction. The show uses humor to expose and critique everyday racism. Premiered a year ago, it is now being performed at various civic centers across the city. Created by Miquel Ripeu, who also stars alongside Elías Torrecillas and Xavi Quero.

Ripeu admits that writing a play about microaggressions wasn’t initially part of his plans: “I didn’t think it was my place. But when I had a son and realized he might face the same challenges as I did, I decided to write this play.” Black Side Story sheds light on subtle, often unintentional, comments or behaviors that deeply affect racialized individuals. “Microaggressions happen every day, and most people aren’t even aware they’re doing them,” Ripeu explains. Unlike overt racism, microaggressions are subtle and can even come across as well-meaning. “We’re not chased by Nazis on the street, but every day someone judges us—positively or negatively—based on our skin color,” he adds.

An Interactive Comedy with Music and Social Critique

The play features an eclectic soundtrack by Roger Conesa, blending rock, gospel, techno, and even sea shanties. One of the highlights is how it balances a lighthearted tone with a powerful social message. Ripeu points out the scarcity of socially critical theater in Barcelona today: “Catalan theater became popular because it stirred things up,” he says.

Sparking Change Without Preaching

The show doesn’t aim to preach or induce guilt in its audience but rather to inspire reflection. “We don’t want people leaving feeling bad about what they’ve said or done; we want them thinking about how they can change it,” Ripeu emphasizes. His personal experiences inform the narrative, delivering a universal message: “People always say the younger generation needs to learn, but in this case, it’s the older generations who need to understand how their words can hurt.”

Suitable for audiences aged 8 and up, Black Side Story features short sketches that resonate strongly with younger viewers. “One of the messages they take home is that adults don’t always get it right,” Ripeu notes.

Black Side Story promises to entertain and provoke thought, inviting audiences to reconsider their attitudes in a time when, according to Ripeu, “racism has regressed, fueled by social media and the rise of the far right.” The play seeks to be a small yet impactful humorous revolution in the fight against racial discrimination.

– Novembre 23: Sala Milaway of the Milà i Fontanals Institute (Register here)
– November 28: Teatre – Casinet Hostafrancs (Register here).
– December 13: Sala Carlos Díaz – Institut Barri Besòs (Registration opens 15 days prior here).