A service commission has led the cultural manager and civil servant Marylène Albentosa to become the artistic coordinator of the Escalante Theater, a scenic project with no fixed headquarters since 2016 and that struggles to remain linked to the cultural life of the city. Albentosa, who accesses provisionally and is the third person in charge of the space in less than three years (after Josep Policarpo and Gabi Ochoa) does not have an easy project on her hands. It protects an iconic setting with more than three decades of history but does so with a limited term of six months (extendable in principle for another six more). Although it considers that there are formulas that would allow its continuity.
– What plans do you come up with for the Escalante? Especially considering that it is a temporary position …
–There is the possibility that it will take longer, although everything has its paperwork and procedure. Regardless of whether it is me, or my predecessors like Josep (Policarpo) or Gabi (Ochoa), the Escalante label is so marked that although I contribute my project, the fundamental thing is to work on it. Achieve the consolidation of the public. There are people who tell you that they have grown up with this theater, and that is what we must consolidate. Also, promote the youth theater line, without forgetting the children’s one.
–Without a fixed headquarters for almost five years, has the project faded?
– I think that in the programming line, no. But the problem is that society does not visualize the Escalante theater. And it is the issue that we must work on. On Sunday we premiered ‘Lluna’ and the public will come to the Principal and I don’t know if the viewer is aware that it is part of the Escalante offer. It is true that there is no reference space but Escalante lives.
– Will there be headquarters soon?
– I know that the deputy for Theater, the deputy for Heritage and the president of the Provincial Council are aware of the need for the headquarters. There are previous jobs and one of the tasks is to try to decide where it is going to be. At least there is a political conscience to solve the problem. I think things will be said shortly. But it is a political question. We have told them that the team needs a space.
– In less than three years there have been three headlines. Does the operation of the theater weigh down?
– I understand that no, because the people who have preceded me have been very clear about what this project was, they came from the theatrical world and they knew what they were doing. The proof is that the productions have continued showing.
– You must face the design of the next season. Do you have proposals inherited from the previous management?
–There are proposals in the drawer. But we are analyzing them. It is important that there is continuity and also that calls are opened for companies.
–The pandemic has shaken the performing arts. How has it affected the Escalante?
– We have reduced school functions but we have expanded family functions. We must consolidate what the Escalante is.
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