The Festival Acròbates is set to return on 7 November in L'Hospitalet, marking its 20th edition after a year-long pause. This year's festival will celebrate its legacy with a special programme running until 28 November, themed ‘El tiempo pasa, la palabra queda’ (Time passes, words remain).
Artistic director Vanessa Martín expressed pride in this milestone, stating it offers an opportunity to reflect on the artists who have graced the festival over the years. “Ultimately, all the people who have participated, all the songs and poems will remain,” she said.
The celebrations will kick off with a free street event featuring performances and readings from artists who have participated in previous editions. Under the title ‘Voces encadenadas’ (Chained Voices), the event will take place from 11:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 19:30. The day will culminate in a concert by Rebeca Jiménez at the Auditorio Barradas, a regular performer at the festival, who has been specially invited to close the opening day.
The programme will also include a poetic performance by José Arcenegui and Alberta Vilarrassa, guiding the audience from the Rambla de la Marina to the Auditorio Barradas, where an exhibition celebrating the festival's 20-year history will be inaugurated.
In addition to established artists, the festival will showcase new works created specifically for this occasion. A highlight will be ‘Lo que atraviesa el tiempo’ (What crosses time), featuring Christina Rosenvinge with texts by Lara Moreno and Sara Torres, blending music and poetry around themes of desire, body, love, and memory. Martín noted that this unique performance may not be repeated.
Another special collaboration will see Elefantes and Benjamín Prado present ‘Entrar a una canción como elefante a una librería’ (Entering a song like an elephant into a bookstore), created to celebrate the festival's two decades. Additionally, Alberto San Juan and Fernando Egozcue will present ‘Amar’ (To love), while Dani Flaco will close the festival on 28 November with a concert commemorating the 20th anniversary of his album ‘Salida de emergencia’ (Emergency exit).
The festival will also feature Acròbates Kids, with activities designed to introduce children to poetry through theatre, music, and play. Highlights include ‘El Lápiz mágico’ (The Magic Pencil) by Joan Bentallé and ‘CATALASTRÓFIC!!’ by Dani Orviz. Martín emphasised the importance of introducing poetry to children, allowing them to grow up listening to it.
Twenty years after the project's inception, the artistic director reaffirms the initial goal of bringing poetry to spaces where it has traditionally been less present, such as theatres, auditoriums, and public squares. L'Hospitalet has become a permanent home for this vision.
