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Julio Manrique receives us in the lobby of the Romea and we engage in a conversation with him in the stalls of this theater, which he knows very well because he was its artistic director for three years. He even says he believes he has seen the ghost of Xirgu, wandering among the boxes. Now he returns, but to direct T de Teatre, one of the longest-running companies on the Catalan scene, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in the best way they know how: by making theater. E.V.A. is a dramatic comedy about four former schoolmates that makes us reflect on pain, its poetics, and its forms.
Rosa Gàmiz, Carolina Morro, Marta Pérez, Carme Pla, and Àgata Roca have seen a lot of rain since they created a company with an infusion-like name a quarter of a century ago, which has endured to this day, reinventing itself and opting for men in its direction. You can see them at the Teatre Romea until October 14.
JULIO MANRIQUE: THEATER IN ITS PUREST STATE
If we think of a proper name in Catalan theater, his is one of the first that comes to mind. Julio Manrique long ago left behind the image of the heartthrob from Catalan soap operas to become one of the most recognized theater actors and directors. He studied law, but although he has not practiced the profession, going to university was worth it: it allowed him to discover his dramatic talent. Little did that 19-year-old boy, who debuted under the guidance of Josep Maria Mestres, think that he could make a living from that amusement. "I am privileged and I feel that way," he confesses.
Cinema, television, theater... he dares to do everything, but where he feels most comfortable is near the stage. His passion for theater has made him capable of tackling the interpretation of a classic like Oedipus by Sophocles, but also, for example, the direction of a piece of acidic social criticism, like Another Movie, by David Mamet. Manrique is not afraid of challenges and defends a theater with concerns, not as a tool that can change the world, but "to stir consciences." He doesn't know how many plays he has directed or performed, but he would surely run out of fingers to count them. Obsessive and disciplined, a season full of projects awaits him, including a small role in a Netflix series. Manrique has just become a father for the third time and, precisely, with his children and friends, he regains strength and manages to "keep his feet on the ground."