ESPAÑOL 
ENGLISH
ENGLISH
ENGLISH
I am delighted to present yet another edition of the Community of Madrid’s Autumn Festival. I am delighted to have the privilege of sharing with its extraordinary crowd of theathregoers my views on the necessity and relevance of creativity and the arts as a catalyst for dialogue and understanding between worlds that may appear to collide, but which, at heart, share the same aspirations. I am grateful to take on the responsibility of creating spaces for thought amidst the celebration of life that a festival represents – spaces that would be impossible without all the people who, year after year, dedicate themselves to making this happen.
Art is the perfect bridge to understanding where we come from and where we are going, and how our stories and our aspirations are intertwined.
At this year’s Festival, setting aside geopolitical boundaries, we are joining in a historic celebration: the 250th anniversary of independence of the United States. An event that resonates deeply throughout the Americas, as it was the first colonial territory on the continent to sever ties with its European colonial power. The year 1776 marked not only the birth of a nation, but also the beginning of an era of revolutions and shared ideals of freedom and hope that completely transformed our world.
Over the course of those 250 years, the impact of American artists on art in the entire world has been undeniable, and this year the Community of Madrid’s Autumn Festival pays tribute to those brilliant minds who have challenged the status quo and who, by bringing together the roots of people of different origins scattered over a vast territory, have influenced the artistic and cultural expressions of so many countries. There is not just one American culture; the expressions of each region and each city, have each its own distinctive characteristics.
Who can deny the importance of American visual art, cinema, and, of course, its musicians and performers, with their strong influence from African-American and Latino cultures, who are currently so present in our everyday lives?
Therefore, the festival opens with Since I’ve Been Me, a tribute to the Portuguese poet Pessoa by Bob Wilson, the genius who revolutionised contemporary theatre by transforming light, space and time into visual poetry. In this edition, we pay a posthumous tribute to the pioneer of interdisciplinarity, which has permeated the world of the performing arts, as we shall see in many of the works presented in this edition.
Similarly, it is impossible to think of today’s youth or global music without acknowledging the enormous influence of American rhythms. From the roots of blues and jazz to the energy of rock, pop and hip-hop, American music has shaped the identity, rebellious spirit and dreams of entire generations of young people around the world. Its impact isn’t confined to major cutting-edge venues; it also resonates on the streets and through our headphones. The Festival will feature artists and companies such as La Mezcla, Sorvina and Izo FitzRoy. The dance programme pays tribute to those iconic choreographers who broke the rules of classical ballet and gave rise to contemporary dance, represented by their successors: the innovative choreographers Faye Driscoll, from California, with the Cullberg Ballet, and Trajal Harrell, from Georgia, USA, with his company, the Zürich Dance Ensemble.
Whilst we are placing particular emphasis on the United States, we will continue to look across the whole of the Americas, Africa and Europe. Countries such as Germany, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Spain, France, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland and Uruguay will hold talks in Madrid during November.
We are proud to present productions featuring talent from more than one background or country, such as Deserto, a respectful interpretation by the Brazilian director Luiz Felipe Reis, of the work of Chilean writer Bolaño, one of the most influential authors in the Spanish language, whose work and life brought together his homeland, Mexico, Spain and the whole of Latin America. Or La ira de Narciso, based on the play by the Uruguayan Sergio Blanco and directed by Xavier Albertí. And, of course, we continue to look to testimonial theatre, which is so important in Latin America.
In short, the 44th Autumn Festival once again promotes discovery, inclusion, reflection and dialogue through an open invitation to come together, be moved and recognise the invisible threads that connect us through culture.
We look forward to welcoming you so we can experience this celebration of the human spirit together!
Marcela Diez
Festival de Otoño Artistic Director
The image on this year’s poster has been provided courtesy of the international artist Manel Pujol Baladas, whose career and creativity greatly enrich the contemporary art scene.
Organized by:
