Historical Plans in Alicante: Classical Theatre Under the Stars at La Alcudia Site

La provincia de Alicante continues to organise new plans for the summer months. This Wednesday, the University of Alicante presented the thirteenth edition of the La Alcudia Classical Theatre Festival, which will be held from 9 to 18 July.

The festival will transform the ruins of this archaeological site in Elche into a grand open-air stage under the stars. As usual, the six plays are part of the Teaching Theatre and Professional Theatre sections.

In addition to these six proposals, a programme of five thematic visits is added to showcase the most significant archaeological remains of the museum collection and the latest research developments by the UA at the La Alcudia site.

Additionally, attendees of the La Alcudia Classical Theatre Festival can enjoy a complete experience, including sunset, with catering services provided by the Matola restaurant in Elche.

During the presentation of this new edition of the La Alcudia Classical Theatre Festival, the Vice-Rector for Culture, Sports and University Extension, Catalina Iliescu, outlined the festival programme, which includes recent premieres.

The professor detailed that the Teaching Theatre section will kick off with 'The Odyssey According to Penelope', a free adaptation of the Homeric classic by the UA Theatre Classroom, on 9 July. The following day, the UMH Theatre Company will present 'Othello'.

Moreover, 'The Trojan Women' returns to the festival for another year. This was the winning play of the eighth UA Greco-Latin School Theatre Competition, performed by the IES Misteri d'Elx theatre group on 11 July.

In the Professional Theatre section, the festival will feature prominent productions such as 'King Lear' by the Companhia do Chapitô, a renowned Portuguese group known for its originality and humour in reinterpreting classics, on 16 July.

The sessions continue with 'Hamlet.02', an innovative adaptation and direction by Sergi Belbel of the Shakespearean classic, exploring contemporary dilemmas with a modern staging, on 17 July; and 'Las Bingueras', a very free version of Euripides' 'The Bacchae', by The girls from Cádiz who will close the festival on 18 July.

The Vice-Rector for Research, Juan Mora, also announced the schedule of thematic visits to the Archaeological Site, organised by the UA's Institute for Research in Archaeology and Historical Heritage (INAPH).

The five visits to the site will reveal the latest research developments by the UA and the most significant archaeological remains of the museum collection. All visits will take place at 8 pm, lasting 30 minutes, and are free of charge.

The tours will begin on Thursday, 10 July with 'Discover the Eastern Baths', led by researcher Jaime Molina; and continue on Friday, 11 July with 'Discover Ilici through its materials' led by archaeologist Ana Ronda. This will be followed by 'Among Treasures. Key Pieces in the History of the Southeast Peninsula', on Wednesday, 16 July, with archaeologist Mercedes Tendero.

The tours will have another session on Thursday, 17 July with 'Living in Ilici: Take a Journey in Time from Today to Iberian Roots', conducted by researcher Sonia Gutiérrez; and will conclude on Friday, 18 July with 'We Show You the Latest News on the Iberian City', presented by researcher Alberto Lorrio.