Thinking from the scene: New Season of the Free Theater
The Teatre Lliure has presented its 2025–2026 season with a program that reaffirms the contemporary twist promoted by Julio Manrique. There will be 28 shows – 8 productions of their own, 10 co -productions and 10 guest proposals, 8 of them international – who want to shake the viewer’s gaze and turn the rooms into a living place of questions and emotion. Manrique, who begins his second season as director of the theater, has expressed the desire that the three rooms of the free “bullin of emotion, thought and questions”.
A Fabià Puigserver with big names and big themes
The course starts with The Master and Margaritaan adaptation of Bulgakov’s novel directed by Alex Rigolawith Nao albet, Francesc Garrido and Laia Manzanares. The work addresses topics such as freedom, corruption and power from a magical realism full of delirium.
‘The Master and Margarita’
Will follow him Fatal coupthe explosive fusion of baroque music and Congolese sounds signed by Fabrizio Cassol and Alain platel. He also returns The day of the Watusithe ambitious adaptation of the novel of Francisco Casavella by‘Iván Moralesnow with William Balart As a protagonist and a new staging on the plate. In December, Who are we?,,,,,, Baron of Evelwill combine dance, music, circus and plastic arts in a reflection on collective identity. Already by 2026, Valentine,,,,,, Caroline Guiela Nguyenwill explore the gaze of migrant children on the world.
Julio Manrique will sign the direction ofBoatman,,,,,, Jez Butterwortha piece located in Northern Ireland in 1981 with Roger Casamajor, Marta Marco and Mima Riera. You will also see Hotan alliance between the dancer Rocío Molina and the playwright Pablo Messiez that will choreographer contemporary climate anguish.
‘The boatman’
One of the most unique proposals will be They arean action opera directed by Nao albet and Marcel Borràswith music from Fernando Velázquezwhich explores the figure of double in the scenes of cinematic action. And the season will close with Against Antigonedirected by Andrea Jiménez and written by Victoria Szpunbergwhich reformulates Greek myth as a debate on democracy.
To grace: dystopias, mutated classics and desire
Free de Gràcia’s programming will open it The invisible vie,,,,,, Lorraine of Sagazanbased on the real testimony of an actor who lost his vision and tries to reconstruct the last show he saw. Lucia of Greco will present Little Women in a rock concert key with a young cast headed by Elisabet Casanovas and Paula Jornet.
Gabriel Calderón will Alas! Misery will make us happya dystopia where robots play the world, with Pere Arquillué and Joan Carreras. Tiago Rodrigues will The distancea futuristic fiction between a father and daughter separated by Mars and the Earth.
‘A party in Rome’
Also in Gràcia, Clear safe will lead A party in Romea comedy of Marc Artigau about the desire for old age, and Cabosanroque will present One thousand three, Say Cheesean opera that revisits Don Giovanni with echoes of Bad bunny. The British author She hickson will come with The authordirected by Anna Serrano and starring in Nausicaaa Bonnínand the season will end with The vie secrète des Vieux,,,,,, Mohamed the Khatibthat collects real testimonies on love and sexuality in old age.
Experimentation and resistance to free space
Free space maintains its laboratory spirit with pieces like DarkfromAurora Bauzà and Pere Jouor The time todo entero,,,,,, Romina Paulaa free version of The glass zoo. You will also be able to see the trilogy Candid, The young Werther’s penalties and The miserable,,,,,, Miquel Mas Fiolon the millennial condition, and Manifest mangioneThe IT Teatre Lliure Youth Project directed by Carol López.
‘Brave women’
Nico Jongen will present Forced laborwith non -professional deaf actors; The huecas willing Cannibal laughon the rise of the far right, and Gloria Balañà will lead Brave womenfrom the book of Txell Feixas. They will follow him UNE TENTATIVE PRESQUE COMME UNE AUTREof the brothers Papachristou; Kimu (the house of all),,,,,, Marie of Jonghand The son,,,,,, Jon fossedirected by Ferran Utzetwith William Balart and Mercè Pons.
An ambitiously free season
With this program, the Free strengthens its alliance with major festivals such as Avignon, Temporada Alta, Elpetit or Flash of Autumn – BCN, and weaves complicity with centers such as the Teatro Real, the CDN or the Liceu. Last season it closed with 88% of occupation and 119,000 spectators, figures that consolidate the project of Julio Manrique. The director summarizes the spirit of this season as a desire to make the theater a space to think collectively.
