Mutxamel is preparing to make theater a central focus of its cultural agenda with the celebration of the 12th National Amateur Theater Festival ‘Mutxamel a Escena 2026’. This event, now in its twelfth edition, has established itself as a key offering within the municipality's cultural programming.
This year, 64 works were submitted to the call for entries, from which four have been selected for the final phase. The jury evaluated aspects such as technique, performance, staging, study, and artistic quality of the proposals. All performances will take place at 8:00 PM in the Auditorium of the Casa de Cultura de Mutxamel, with free admission.
The festival will kick off on Friday, October 2nd, with ‘La llegenda de Sleepy Hollow’, by the Escola de Teatre de Sueca. This play in Valencian, with version and direction by Aitana Munera and Emili Chaqués, transports the audience to a town marked by superstitions and the figure of the Headless Horseman, with the arrival of a new teacher who questions local beliefs.
The following day, Saturday, October 3rd, it will be the turn of ‘La última planta’, by Pànic Escènic. Written by José Warletta and directed by Amparo Sospedra and Warletta himself, the tragicomedy presents a peculiar antechamber to heaven where souls await their destiny, guided by an angel.
The program will resume on Friday, October 16th, with ‘En la luna’, by Alpí Teatro. This play, written by Alfredo Sanzol and directed by Ricardo Molina, invites a journey through childhood memories and the past that shapes identity. The performance, in Spanish, is recommended for ages 16 and over.
The competitive performances will conclude on Saturday, October 17th, with ‘La Viña’, by Paraskenia Teatro. The play, written and performed by Roberto Jifer alongside Prado Amor, addresses the reunion of two siblings after years of no contact, upon discovering an old family estate and its hidden secret.
The mayor of Mutxamel, Rafael García Berenguer, highlighted the festival's consolidation, which brings companies and plays from different places, turning the Casa de Cultura into a meeting point for the performing arts. He also emphasized the City Council's commitment to making culture accessible to everyone, with free admission to remove economic barriers.
The Councilor for Culture, Loreto Riera, positively assessed the participation, with 64 proposals received, and the variety of selected works, offering different stories and stage languages. She highlighted the recognition of amateur theater and the effort behind each performance.
The Awards Gala for the 12th National Amateur Theater Festival ‘Mutxamel a Escena’ will be held on Saturday, October 24th, at 8:00 PM, marking the end of the edition and recognizing the work of the participating companies. The City Council invites everyone to enjoy this month dedicated to theater.
