The Apolo Theater in Barcelona presented this Tuesday the superproduction The Neverending Story, the musical, which can be seen from November 22 to April 6. After its premiere in Madrid, the production arrives in the Catalan capital with a "more advanced" version that enhances interaction with the audience.
Based on the fantasy novel written by Michael Ende, it is directed by Federico Barrios Fierro. The production has a team of a hundred people and thirty performers on stage, including adults and children. Apart from special effects and the use of new technologies, the musical uses animatronics to give realism to the creatures of the fantasy story, reports ACN.
Produced by Dario Regattieri, with music by Iván Macías and lyrics by Félix Amador, The Neverending Story, the musical is an original work that was born during the pandemic. The production promises to transport the viewer to a magical world alongside mythical characters from Ende's book.
As for the music, the show offers 16 songs performed live, among which is the popular The Neverending Story. Among the particularities of the production is the white luck dragon, Fújur. For its construction, more than 50 meters of plush fabric were needed, and it weighs 600 kilos. The rest of the creatures of the Kingdom of Fantasía, such as the racing snail, the horse Artax, the turtle Vetusta Morla, and the Rockbiter, required more than three months of work to create them with a team of about thirty people. To operate these creatures, a system of cables and levers with more than 300 meters of brake cable has been devised. The musical's team has created 94 natural hair wigs and performs more than 200 costume changes.
The Neverending Story, the musical tells the story of a sick Childlike Empress whose kingdom, Fantasía, is in grave danger. Salvation will depend on Atreyu, a brave warrior from the green-skinned tribe, and Bastian, a shy boy who passionately reads a magical book. Only a human being can save this enchanted place. Together they will embark on a journey through lands of dragons, giants, monsters, and magic. But as they delve into this world, Bastian will have to solve the mysteries of his own body.
The child cast includes 14 boys and girls, some from Barcelona, who alternate the different performances with names such as Blanca Casellas, Noa Cánovas, Sara Roch, Pol Ribet, Marta Porris, or Joan Pascual. The adult cast includes Josean Moreno, Elena González, Aleix Forriols, or Noemi Gallego.
During the presentation of the production in Barcelona, producer Dario Regattieri claimed to offer an original work because it means "creating industry." "We give artists and professionals the opportunity to exhibit themselves. What we have at home is just as good as what comes from outside and can compete," he highlighted.
Regattieri has championed the commitment to animatronics because it gives "greater realism" to the scenes. "We have worked so that when a 12-meter dragon with a four-meter head appears on stage, it gives realism. It was important that it was credible, and that's how you make the audience enter the story," he expressed.
In a very similar vein, the director of the production, Barrios Fierro, celebrated that with a scenographic, scenic, and costume effort, a fantastic world has been recreated from scratch, which was a challenge.
The person also responsible for the choreographies said that the new "2.0" version of the show in Barcelona will seek to move the audience more. Barrios Fierro advanced that, among the surprises that can be seen, there will be a character who will fly onto the stage and that the death of one of the creatures will be experienced intensely.