Barcelona’s Grec Festival

Centred at its original home on Montjuïc the Grec Festival runs from 30 June-31 July this year. It is a mix of music, dance, theatre, opera and circus and gets its name from Teatre Grec where it was originally based.

The open-air theatre was built in 1929 out of a disused quarry and the festival, which was initially designed to promote Catalonia’s performing arts, was first launched in 1979. It also now includes a selection of the best of Spanish and international works in its programme.

The present director of the festival is Ramon Simo, who was appointed in 2012 for a four-year term. His stated aim is to make the festival more contemporary, more international and more multidisciplinary. Last year there were over 60 events of which almost half were international. About 50 per cent of the performances were premieres.

This year the festival opens with Opus a work by Australian Circa Contemporary Circus that combines the latest in circus performance and dance with contemporary music.

To widen its appeal this year Grec 2013 also includes a new initiative for families called MiniGrec with 13 productions in seven theatres throughout Barcelona. Another highlight is 100 Femmes in a work starring 100 anonymous Barcelona women who build up a story based on their individual lives.

The festival has gradually moved away from its original home at Teatre Grec and also takes place at Mercat de les Flors, Teatre Lliure and Centre de Cultura Contemporania.