'Lysistrata' comes back to Porta4

Yesterday evening, Sunday the 12th of May, we performed our 'Lysistrata' in Porta4, a well-known place by some part of our cast (since we seasoned there in 2017), but at the same time being a new stage to all of us, since the venue moved to a new theatre recently, so it was the first time we brought our play to that new space, and we had to adapt it to the place's features.

Around 19h, Porta4's lights turned off and an audience who filled the theatre's seat at its most began to enjoy this comedy, flooding the place with their laughter. In general terms, it was an entertaining eve where both the audience and actors had a great impression. In fact, being this a revival in Porta4, many of the assisting ones were repeaters from other gigs of this play who came to see the play's progress, and generally, it was quite noticeable that the play conserved a huge part of its essence.

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What is Lysistrata about?

Lysistrata (Greek: Λυσιστράτη "the one who dissolves the army") is Aristophanes’ most famous play.

We travel to Athens in 411a.C, in the middle of a war between Athens and Sparta that lasts for twenty years. Before the dark reality and stubbornness of men to keep on fighting, women, led by Lysistrata, will take a sexual strike in order to get that peace needed in Greek city-states. In the absence of making love... will they finish the war?

A Greek-style comical utopia.

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The piece itself had a great acceptance among the assisting ones. Though we had to adapt it to the scenario's features, in a theatre where the audience locates on three sides (as a kind of ancient Greek theatre), and taking this into account our performances had to be facing those three sides. In general terms, this didn't cause many inconveniences because we were able to easily adapt ourselves to the place's requirements thanks to a previous rehearsal we did a couple of days before and, also, because this play has enough track behind, and we know how to adapt it to slight changes. After overcoming these challenges, the play itself developed quite good, and the audience enjoyed it, laughed, and got entertained with us.

Thanks to all the assisting audience, it's such a pleasure to get on stage to make you have a great time when feeling your support. A special mention to Nicolás Juguet (our old Cinesias), who after a trip around the world during these last months, he was able to find some time to attend the play in a technical stop he was doing in Barcelona. In addition, after the show, we exchanged opinions and receive critiques, positive at its most, of the audience who had a great time with us in Porta4, many of them valued our work on stage and encouraged us to keep on working like this, which is quite rewarding.

I also want to acknowledge Porta4's staff members for programming us again on their new space after two years of our last season with them. For their trust in us and the play itself, for offering us their lighting and sound technician, and for all the support they gave us since minute one, bringing us the opportunity to rehearse on their stage a couple of days before the show too. Thank you very much for your time, effort, support, and love. We hope to come back as soon as we can to perform, if not this play, another one under Porta4's spotlights!

I would finally like to thank the rest of the cast members, with whom I share many of my joys and sorrows. It was a pleasure to count on your support and love during this performance on a day when I wasn't on my best emotionally, but after all, I end up leaving the theatre feeling glad and happy for counting on you all through the inconveniences. Thanks for sharing the stage with me, for all your effort, professionalism, and the fellowship we distil gig after gig. A special mention to Carmen Castello (my new female Coriander), for knowing how to cope with the situation in her first show with us, congratulations, girl! To all my fellow fatigue companions, a million thanks for knowing how to carry this play on day after day before different audiences!

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'Lysistrata' continues this season 2019 with its next programmed show on Sunday the 19th of May at 18:30h in Nou Barris' Seu del Districte (Plaça Major de Nou Barris, 1 | Barcelona) within Nou Barris' Feasts with free tickets up to complete the room. If you want to stay tuned to the news or more information and surprises, you can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. What are you waiting for?