Between 5 and 20 September 2026, Shanghai will host three Catalan productions representing the diversity and vitality of the contemporary Catalan theatre scene. A total of eight performances are scheduled, accompanied by talks and meetings with the audience, in an initiative that will reinforce the growing interest among Chinese programmers in Catalan performing arts.

The programme will feature three productions in highly diverse styles and formats: Tu em vas prometre una història d'amor, written by Helena Tornero and directed by Israel Solà; Thauma, by Magda Puig Torres and Andreu Martínez Costa (La Mula company), a piece its creators have described as a theatrical poem; and L'alegria que passa, a musical adaptation of the classic by Santiago Rusiñol produced by Dagoll Dagom.

A key feature of this Catalan presence is that two of the productions, Tu em vas prometre una història d'amor and L'alegria que passa, will be performed in Catalan with Chinese surtitles. This marks one of the first times Chinese audiences will be able to attend theatre performances in Catalan.

Two complementary programmes

Although all three productions will take place in Shanghai in the same month, they are presented in different contexts. Tu em vas prometre una història d'amor, a production by Sala Beckett and Grec Festival de Barcelona 2025, and Thauma, co-produced by Teatre Lliure and Nilak, are part of the ACT Festival programme in Shanghai.

Helena Tornero's play will run for two performances on 5 and 6 September, followed by a talk and a conversation with the author and Víctor Muñoz from Sala Beckett. Thauma, meanwhile, will run for two performances on 9 and 10 September, also featuring a talk and a conversation with the artistic team from La Mula.

Alongside this, L'alegria que passa will be staged at the prestigious Shanghai Culture Square, one of the city's leading performing arts venues, as a standalone production rather than as part of a festival. The production, featuring stage direction by Marc Rosich, musical direction by Andreu Gallén and choreography by Ariadna Peya, will run for four performances between 18 and 20 September.

These events stem from the Chinese cultural sector's growing interest in Catalan performing arts. All three are supported by the Institut Ramon Llull, which promotes the internationalisation of Catalan creative talent.

In recent years, Chinese programmers and venue managers have visited festivals and performing arts venues in Catalonia to discover projects and creators firsthand. This process has helped consolidate the international presence of Catalan playwriting, visual theatre and productions for all audiences created in Catalonia.

Presenting three Catalan productions in a single city within such a short timeframe confirms this growing interest and strengthens the international profile of Catalan language and culture in one of the world's most important and dynamic cultural markets.