The Unveiling - The start of a season of English Theatre in Barcelona

The Unveiling has unveiled the summer English theatre season at The BCN Studio, and this is their last weekend at our stage. 

Should you come and see it? Only if you enjoy great theatre that leaves you thinking.

Trap Door International is a group of artists from different countries, under the direction of Artistic Director Beata Pilch. Her directing journey led her to found the company in Barcelona after years with Trap Door Chicago.

Her first play in the city was Blood on the Cat’s Neck by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, which premiered on November 28, 2015, at Tinta Roja. It was listed by Time Out Barcelona as one of the top ten things to see in the city.

Trap Door International regularly creates and performs English-language theatre in Barcelona.

This play, The Unveiling tells the story of Ferdinand, a recurring character in Václav Havel’s plays. Ferdinand visits his “best friends,” Michael and Vera. At first, they seem to have the perfect life — but as the night unfolds and their perfection begins to glitch, we witness what’s truly being unveiled.

The friends have just redone their apartment, and Ferdinand is invited to admire their shiny and wonderful furniture  and the rare delicacies they eat, trying to make Ferdinand aware of the happiness he’s missing by not having what they have. Happiness must come in the form of Michael and Vera’s amazing things from Switzerland. 

Director Beata Pilch first staged The Unveiling at her company, Trap Door Theatre (Chicago) in 2012. Its message resonates then, today as it did in 1975 when it was written. 

In this adaptation, The Unveiling is combined with Dozens of Cousins, another play by Czech writer and politician Václav Havel, which helps deepen the absurd and surreal atmosphere that we see on stage. 

Actors Lena Sakalla and Sam Allan bring to life Vera and Michael, the perfect couple, setting a tone for dark comedy. The choreographed movements are a joy to watch. Dermot Flanagan in the role of Ferdinand brings to the stage the look of innocence that creates empathy with the audience. 

Each second of the play feels like a gift to the audience, everything has been taken care of — the choreography, the lighting and sound design, and the unusual objects that decorate the house. 

And just when it seems the play is ending, actor Aldo D’Ibaños plays a new character. The absurdity isn’t over, it just begins again. 

The characters are still playing, and the audience is still wondering: when will the farce end? 

As many great theatre plays, the theme remains relevant 50 years after it’s been written. How do we present ourselves to our friends? How do we make our own lives miserable by trying to fit in a standard that we weren’t interested in living in to start with? 

If the quote “We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like” from Fight Club resonates with you, or if you like watching art that makes you question yourself and the society we live in, then you will love The Unveiling production from Trap Door International. 

For The BCN Studio is a pleasure to have this play featured in our programm, as more English theatre comes to our stage during the Summer. 

English theatre in Barcelona is one of the many cultural things to do in this city. Whether you’re a tourist in Barcelona, an expat or immigrant craving good theatre, or a local with a curiosity for what’s being done in other languages in your own city, we at The BCN Studio can satisfy those needs with theatre, improv, and many other performances and cultural events. 

The Unveiling – Last weekend! 14 & 15th of June. Saturday at 20h, Sunday at 19h. Get your tickets.

Come, have a drink and enjoy a theatre play in Barcelona. 

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