Juan Carlos Martel appointed as new director of Teatre Lliure

The Teatre Lliure’s board of trustees yesterday chose stage manager Juan Carlos Martel as the theatre’s new director. Martel’s appointment brings to a close a crisis at the institution that began with the resignation of its former head, Lluís Pasqual, in September. The committee of experts that championed Martel argued that his project is “the most complete and apt” for the theatre’s next stage, because it proposes “measures of internal organisation and remodelling of its functioning” in-line with what the theatre has already begun. On the artistic side, they highlighted Martel’s commitment to “incorporating new generations of creators.”

Martel began as an assistant to Pasqual on a variety of productions, and it was Pascual who gave him his opportunity to debut at the Teatre Lliure, directing such shows as ’Revolta de bruixes’, ’L’inframón’, ’L’espera’ and ’Sis personatges’. Martel was one of those who signed the manifesto in support of Pasqual after he was accused of abusing his power in the institution. The most recent production he directed was ’La Ilíada’, with Eduard Farelo.

Born in Barcelona in 1976, Martel studied economics at the Esade business school, and then dramatic arts at the Institut del Teatre, and is currently doing a postdoc degree in cultural project design at Barcelona university.