The details of the show and this year's tour were presented at a press conference held this Wednesday in La Nau, which included the interventions of the vice-principals of the Universitat de València Antonio Ariño (Culture and Sport) and Carlos Padilla (Internationalization and Cooperation); Xavier Rius, Culture deputy of the Diputació de València; Álvaro Oltra, director of the SGAE of the Valencian Community; Javier Sahuquillo, director of the show; and Josep Valero, one of the directors of Escena Erasmus. 

“Una cançó per a Europa” is a show performed by 16 actors and actresses from 7 different nationalities (Ethiopia, Germany, Norway, Gambia, Italy, France and Spain), who will demonstrate on stage that it is possible to work together and overcome differences. Confrontations, discussions, populism, growing frontiers, threats, moral turmoil, collapse, renewed flags, crooked smiles. Is Europe walking towards a new abyss? Are we reaching the end of a long time of peace? Can we get out of this crossroads? Where are we going? Where do we want to go?  This is the premise of the show that will be staged this week in La Nau and that will then tour different Valencian cities and towns as part of the 'Las pequeñas Europas' tour. 

Both Antonio Ariño and Carles Padilla have expressed "the great satisfaction" for the Universitart to promote an "emblematic" project that builds Europe from below and has had the capacity to grow: next year will be its tenth anniversary. A project to build Europe through the theatre that has been supported and with a desire for continuity both the Diputació de València and the SGAE, as confirmed by their leaders, Xavier Rius and Alvaro Oltra, respectively. 

On the other hand, Josep Valero added that the project has been consolidated over time and that in the last three years this show has gone from being represented in 9 towns to travel 17.   

"We bring European sensitivity to cities and towns, and we are very satisfied because 7 out of every 10 inhabitants in cities with less than 5,000 inhabitants have seen our shows," he concluded. 

Finally, Javier Sahuquillo described the show as "a comedy that, with fun and with a critical character, imagines a Europe in which 2023 wins the far-right, a plausible reality, inviting the public to wonder.”

Erasmus students on tour    

“Las Pequeñas Europas” is a cultural programme set up by Escena Erasmus (Office of the Vice-Principal for Culture and Sport, and Office of the Vice-Principal for Innovation and Transfer) and the Culture Area of the Diputació de València with the support of the General Foundation of the Universitat de València, to establish bridges of dialogue between local Valencian realities and the European cities represented by actors. In addition to the theatre, each municipality organises various activities that promote intercultural encounters, reflection on the way of being European and different events with local collectives.  The tour is sponsored by the Institut Valencià de la Joventut-IVAJ, the València City Council and with the collaboration of the Office of the Vice-Principal for Territorial Projection and Society, and the SGAE Foundation. 

This year's show will visit 17 towns and cities in the province of Valencia:  València, Barx, Bétera, Chera, Ontinyent, Siete Aguas, La Pobla Llarga, Villar del Arzobispo, Atzeneta d'Albaida, El Genovés, Albalat de la Ribera, Quartell, Bugarra, Gandia, Moixent, Vallada and Bocairent. 

The show is directed by Javier Sahuquillo with texts written on purpose by outstanding playwrights of the Valencian scene: Guada Sáez, Begoña Tena, Sònia Alejo, Sara Acàmer and Daniel Tormo, and for the first time has the collaboration of a Madrid author, Ignacio García May, and an Italian author, Michele Ruol. The show is performed by:  Nicolás Aranda (Sta. Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands), Hanna Assefu (Ethiopia), Lucy Bigard (Île-de-France, France), Simona Bongiorni (Lombardy, Italy), Momodou Dibba (North Bank, Gambia), Martin Gast (Franken, Germany), Mari Holmsen (Vestfold, Norway), Annkathrin Jantz (Hessen, Germany), André-René Knobloch (Karlsruhe, Germany), Adriana Morbiducci (Île-de-France, France), Elena Pardo (l'Horta Sud), Celia Burgos (la Vall d'Albaida), Helena Ramon (l'Horta Nord), Quentin Rodriguez (Picardie, France), Bruno Tortosa (la Costera) and Raquel Violero (la Marina Alta).