The Lliure theatre revolutionized

On February 1 Juan Carlos Martel is to take on the role of director of the Lliure theatre.

That very day he is to meet with the business committee; study how to attract companies to increase contributions to the theatre’s budget; and study the contractual situation with Mount Olympus, to see if it can be taken off the programme. These three aims reveal the first building blocks of the project that he aspires to create with his team: yesterday, he discussed his desire to help the institution through the rocky period it has been going through for months, his will to make it more multidisciplinary and inclusive, and his plan to open it up to the general public and not just the artistic community. His arrival coincides with the start of a process to makes changes to the Board of Trustees (in May new statutes may have been agreed on to start altering it). Martel’s many plans include supporting the new generation through projects involving young creators tutored by artists with more experience, and generating a project whereby universities and foundations develop theatre collectives in conjunction with the Lliure.

In 1988 the Lliure went from cooperative to foundation, and it is to be reformulated again this year. Lliure is coming into the 21st century with a commitment present day.