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Three formats in one: the Grec Festival reinvents itself and bets on local talent

Three formats in one: the Grec Festival reinvents itself and bets on local talent

Festival Grec

The Grec festival has adapted to the new normal and now boasts a digital format, more than 100 live performances, and a range of shows that will be staged throughout the year

The 44th Grec will be very different this year; the iconic festival began on 30 June and, for the first time, will run until next summer

The Grec, which offers theatre, dance, music and circus, is one of Barcelona's most international festivals and has long been part of the cultural life of the city. In fact, it is not only the city's main summer attraction but a truly international beacon of culture.

Some major festivals have been forced to cancel due to Covid-19, but in a very difficult year for the world of culture, Barcelona has made a commitment to a summer of theatre by reinventing the Grec and encouraging local talent.

The Grec has been one of the few festivals in Barcelona that is still going on despite the crisis caused by the coronavirus. This week has been on the point of having to stop the activity due to the rebound in cases this July. However, with extreme hygiene and safety measures, if lucky, the festival will be able to continue with its programming.

"This edition of the Grec Festival combines the digital format with the traditional one, becoming three festivals in one"

And how is this new edition of the Grec? This year the Grec combines digital with traditional, turning three festivals into one.

On the one hand, we can enjoy the classic Grec Festival, which is held this July in the theatres of Montjuïc and in different parts of the city such as the Lliure, the MNAC or the CCCB and which has hundreds of performances, most of them Catalan companies. Musical performances include Manel, El Petit de Cal Eril, Els Amics De Les Arts, El Pol Petit, Stay Homas and some international names such as Compagnie XY or Peeping Tom.

In addition, El Grec is also opening a virtual line full of proposals designed to be broadcasted online and on podcasts. El Grec en Obert is the most digital format of the traditional festival, designed to broadcast live shows, podcasts and dramatised readings on social networks, radio and tv.

The Grec has also adapted to the new safety measures, by reducing venue capacities by a third, ensuring that public areas are thoroughly clean and disinfected, reminding visitors that masks are obligatory, and staggering access to closed spaces to avoid crowds. Lastly, the festival has already raised the curtain with the performance of A tocar!, a tribute to the health personnel and other professionals who are working so hard to combat the coronavirus.

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