The event is consolidated by highlighting the modernist heritage of the city and with the participation of dozens of local entities.
The second edition of ‘Reus 1900. Festa Modernista’ has practically sold out all the tickets for the proposed activities, a significant fact after doubling the number of events compared to last year’s edition, with nearly two hundred shows.
The celebration has significantly exceeded last year’s attendance and has established itself as an important pole of attraction for visitors from all over the country, who did not want to miss the atmosphere of these days.
The opening of more heritage spaces, the high quality of the historical re-enactment shows, and the involvement of organisations and citizens have been the key to this year’s success. Characteristics that have marked this second edition and that the organisers of the festival, Agència de Promoció de Ciutat ‘Reus Promoció’ and Casa Navàs, want to establish as the basis of the model for future editions.
Expansion of spaces and new activities
One of the most significant elements this year has been the increase in activities and new experiences to get to know the modernist heritage of the city and the main buildings such as the Casa Navàs, the Institut Pere Mata, and the Casa Gasull, which have allowed visitors to rediscover this heritage in a very different way.
Exceptionally, the Hipòlit Montseny’s Workshop, the Palau Bofarull, the Teatre Fortuny, the Círcol de Reus, the Centre de Lectura, the Mas Totosaus, and the Escoles Prat de la Riba were also open during these days. The opening of unusual spaces has been very well received and they have sold out.
On the other hand, the recreated spaces have been extended beyond Plaça Mercadal, with children’s activities in Plaça Prim and theatrical performances in Plaça Dr. Sabater.
More entities involved
Another key aspect of the event has been the involvement of many of the city’s agents. This year, some eighty organisations and companies from Reus and the surrounding area collaborated in the preparation of the proposed activities.
Nearly two hundred re-enactors from different theatrical organisations in Reus and historical re-enactment groups from cities such as Els Pallaresos, Terrassa, Igualada, Badalona, and Barcelona performed in different areas of the city.
The recreation work has been made possible thanks to entities from Reus such as Bravium Teatre, Germandat de Sant Isidre i Santa Llùcia, Orfeó Reusenc, TEBAC Teatre, Associació Mandrilia, Casal Despertaferro, Cinc Quarteres, Colla Sardanista Roses de Tardor, or the Ball de Diables de Reus, among others.
Another of the most relevant aspects of this year’s edition was the incorporation of street theatre performances which, over these days, were staged in different areas of the city centre. The texts, written by the Reus writer and playwright Antoni Veciana, reflect the commercial vitality of the time.
Own-created shows
The second edition of ‘Reus 1900. Festa Modernista’ was notable for the increase in the number of theatrical performances, many of them created especially for this festival. In addition, there have once again been staging shows such as Els rentadors at the Casal de les Dones, Lo Matrimoni Civil by TEBAC Teatre at the Town Hall’s Plenary Hall, and Maria Rosa by Amelie Produccions, a show created to commemorate the Guimerà Year. Also, to celebrate this event, the festival closed with the premiere in Catalonia of the show ‘Soc Àngel Guimerà’, written and directed by the Reus playwright Jordi Folck.
On the other hand, the Casa Navàs has premiered the theatrical show ‘Entreteles’, directed by Irene Benavent with the participation of a dozen actors. This production recreated the day-to-day life of the historic textile shop in the back room of the house, a space that had not been open to visitors until now and which was opened especially for the festival.
Another production created for the occasion was Balconades per veure i ser vistes (Balconies to see and be seen), a play designed expressly for the Casa Gasull, a space that also opened its doors exceptionally for the modernist festival. The show was put on by La Gata Borda and directed by Ester Cort and Antoni Veciana. These performances brought to life the daily life of Mr. and Mrs. Gasull and their staff in this magnificent building.
Another of the original shows of ‘Reus 1900. Festa Modernista’ was the cabaret Lliçons al Camerino by Rafael Fabregat, which the company La Feréstega performed on Friday in the gardens of the Casa Rull. This theatrical production takes us into the society of the time in a setting in which dressing room and stage converge in a single space.
The organisers highlight another important new feature of this ‘Reus 1900. Festa Modernista‘, the workers’ party, that enlivened Saturday night in La Palma, where the activity of the recreational societies of the time was revived.
This year the festival also included a space to promote Terrassa as a guest city, which in 2024 celebrated the 21st edition of the Fira Modernista, as well as the performance during the weekend of its modernist giants.
The organisation of ‘Reus 1900. Festa modernista’ was carried out by Casa Navàs, the Agència de Promoció de Ciutat “Reus Promoció” and the City Council of Reus, with the support of the Diputació de Tarragona, and the sponsorship of Vermuts Miró.
