Bilingual theatre, English – Spanish, why?
Because it allows us to think and make theatre from two different and yet deeply enriching visions of the world;
Because it allows us to conceive dramatic conflict in relation to cultural context;
Because of the formidable exercise that implies braving theatre writing in two languages;
Because it allows us to reach wider and divers audiences;
Because language is no imprisonment but rather the sail blown by winds of culture
In a world in need of diversity.
Musical theatre, why?
Because, first of all, we love music;
Because music is expression and emotional understanding;
Because music is reconstruction of memory, of a memory allowing us to understand the world;
Because music makes possible to live other worlds, just as real as the one we live in;
Because music is spiritual and physical response;
Because music is communication as well as social integration;
Because music is aesthetic experience…
And all of these are most necessary
In a world in need of beauty.
Scientific theatre, why?
Because we believe we ought to understand reality;
Because science is culture too;
Because science is beautiful;
Because science challenges your intellect to the core;
Because we believe – actually, we know – that science can be transmitted through theatre;
Because science is spiritual and physical response;
Because science is emotion,
The emotion of understanding,
In a world in need of light.
Humor theatre, why?
Because laugh – if frank and nonchalant – is life;
Because sense of humor is a form of intelligence and, as such, of understanding;
Because sense of humor is physical and spiritual well-being;
Because sense of humor allows us to say the truth without incurring risk of violence;
Because sense of humor allows emotional turnabouts as quick as a flash;
Because sense of humor easies tensions;
Because sense of humor levels us all in our small miseries,
In a world in need of humbleness.
MEMBERS of CONTRASTHEATRE
Gutxi Haitz Céspedes
Gutxi Haitz is a freelance graphic artist. His background is in Computer Science (Technical University of Madrid) and Fine Arts (Complutense University of Madrid). He tirelessly works on all kinds of artistic projects. Always burning neurones in exchange of creativity, he participated as stage designer in theatre plays such Pictures at exhibition (Contrastheatre) o more recently in the children's theatre play El toro y el banquero, staged by the company of Blanca Marsillach. He also collaborates with advertising companies, mainly as art director or concept designer, creating new ideas of spaces and objects. He possesses a wide experience as a web designer; he has worked with fashion designers (www.alonsize.com), photographers (www.pierospoggi.com), restaurants (www.circodelastapas.com), among others. He has ventured into the world of comic books, for instance, as colour artist for the USA TV series La muerte del Zorro. His favorite professional activity is illustration, where he has been engaged in several productions: classical literature (La vida es sueño), traditional tales (El flautista de Hamelín), or productions exploring more modern themes (Refranero Zombie). His professional interests are focused on finding a balance between the classical and digital artist, integration of 3D graphics in modern illustration, the inexhaustible study of color, the infinite practice of drawing, the development of human figure, creative writing, and comic drawing as means of expression.
Giovanna Farigu
Born in Italy, she received a bachelor's degree from Conservatorio Statale di Musica Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina in Cagliari, with L. Costa - Pane. Afterwards, she received a master's degree in piano performance from University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, where she studied with F. P. Hans Graf. Among her piano teachers she likes to remember Gÿorgy Sandor, Jan Ekier and, very especially, Tsiala Kvernadze. Her intense piano concert activity includes solo recitals, with orchestra, chamber music, and theatre productions in the main halls of Europe. She has recorded 8 CDs for Austrian, German, and Spanish productions. Her cultural background also includes the study and performance of dance (contemporary, avant-garde, and international folklore), oral and written fluency in 6 languages, practice of aikido, Latin-American percussion, and flute. Her interest in pedagogy (she has taught, among others, music and movement in the arts with her own teaching methods, tailored to 4 - 6 years old) led to her current collaboration with Paco Gómez and Gutxi Haitz Céspedes, with whom she founded the company Contrastheatre.
Paco Gómez
Paco Gómez is a maths professor at the School of Computer Science (Technical University of Madrid). His research interests revolve around two distinct, yet intersecting, areas: mathematics and music. Parallel to his scientific activity, Paco Gómez has kept a musical and theatre activity. In theatre he has been part of different companies, both as actor and director. He has participated in productions of absurd theatre (Ionesco's plays, mainly), political satire, musical theatre. He founded and directed for two years the university theatre company at his School. Lately, he has specialized in children's theatre plays. Contrastheatre is his more recent project. As for his musical background, he has studied piano, Latin percussion and recorder.
