Barcelona theater brings global politics on local stage to spark political dialogue

In a world where conversations feel more divided than ever, a small theater in Barcelona is creating space for dialogue and discussion.

BCN Studio, located in Barcelona’s Poble Sec neighborhood, is a creative collective of local artists and producers dedicated to using theater to spark conversation about politics and society. Within this space, the stage transforms into a mirror of the world, inviting audiences to explore global issues through the intimate lens of local storytelling.

The space is designed to feel like home. It's casual, cozy, and full of personality, inviting guests to connect, chat, and participate.

As the curtain rises on a new season, the studio brings English-language plays to the stage with upcoming productions planned in Spanish and Catalan.

"We're trying to create a space of multicultural and multilingual art, and diversity for the community here," artistic director Annie O’Callaghan told Catalan News. The space welcomes anyone who calls Barcelona home, striving to create a vibrant and inclusive community through art. 

Currently on stage 'Heroes of the Fourth Turning' is a drama about four young American conservatives who clash over theology, politics, and personal responsibility. Brought by Barcelona Repertory Theatre, the play was written in 2016 in response to the first Trump election.

"We decided to take it on because so many of the themes in it are relevant today," said play's director Bonnie Evans, "so much of it is about identity and listening to each other."

Characters typically portrayed as caricatures are instead presented on stage as complex flawed human beings. With positive responses from the audience so far, the play looks to open conversations finding common ground in today's political division and disagreements, Evans explained. 

"Art has the capacity to change the world or to at least spark conversations that will lead us in the right direction for positive change," the studio's director said. 

With folding chairs arranged in an intimate setup, audiences sit just steps away from the performers, making every show a shared experience. "We want to be a living room,"  O’Callaghan said, "a room that is living."

The studio looks to create a space where spectators are encouraged to actively engage through conversations and Q&A sessions after shows. "I'm really interested in creating those immersive experiences in which the audience is not passive," O’Callaghan said.

An upcoming production at the end of July is Nikol Kollars’ 'Fickle Eulogy,' a solo performance exploring mourning, ideology, and the struggle to balance love with difficult choices. The monologue written by Kollars is inspired by her own experience of losing her mother to Covid-19.  

"Theater is not escapism," said O’Callaghan, "It's a way of facing the issues and looking at them through a new lens."

There’s something happening almost every night at the studio. Sometimes it's a powerful solo performance and other nights it's a showcase by local amateur theater groups. The theater's line up features stand-up comedy, drag performances, language exchanges events, and analog jam sessions.

Its programming intends to stay in tune with current events, reflecting its role as a creative public space and addressing the needs of the community, O’Callaghan explained.