The European theatrical project Escena Erasmus of the Universitat de València, Valencian Performing Arts Prize of Honour 2023, delves itself, in his 16 show, in the desolation provoked by the no precedents catastrophe in the south of Valencia, striking and scarring a whole town by the tragedy.

Through the text written by recognised authors of the present cultural scene, some of whom lived that terrible experience in first person, Escena Erasmus UV explores the emotions and feelings of the people who saw life as they knew it disappear as water and dirt came through, but they also saw how in the midst of chaos and destruction, surprising flashes of light appeared in the form of row of volunteers and solidary campaigns from all over the world to remind us that is possible to be reborn again from the mud.

The show at the same time, thinks about the beauty that, in spite of pain, can arise from natural catastrophes which human beings have to suffer: fire, earthquakes, tsunamis and floods. A human beauty that appears without being asked and which comforts the victims in times of such sadness.

‘An instnt of beauty’ is a production of the Universitat de València with the management of UV General Foundation and the support of Institut Valencià de la Joventut (IVAJ) and the Cultural Area of the Valencian Provincial Council, and has been presented by the Vice-principal of the UniversitatEster Alba and Carles Padilla, responsible for Culture and Society, and Internationalisation and Multilingualism, respectively; the General Director of IVAJ, Vicente Ripoll;culture representative Francisco Teruel; and the co-director of Escena Erasmus UV and director of the play, Josep Valero, who has justified the title of the play “because beauty in the midst of the catastrophe is the capacity to resist with empathy and solidarity”.

The script was written byCarles Alberola, Carmen Amoraga, Máximo Huerta, Maria Andrés, Joaquín Camps, Marta Toso, Jaime Millás, Sara Olivas, Sergio Serrano and Anna Marí; and the dramaturgy has been coordinated by Daniel Tormo. The play will be performed by a cast formed by eight Erasmus and valencian students: Lluna Avellaneda, Ollie Binnie, Yasmin Chaabane, Jordi Casamayor, Dolores E. Noriega, Laura Luque, Romain Timmermans andÀngels Vaca. They will have the opportunity to know the valencian territory during the tour that will be carried out between the 5 May and the 6 July in the three provinces of the Valencian Community.

The act has counted with the presence of the manager of the General Foundation of the Universitat de València, Cristóbal Suria; municipal representatives of some locations where the show will be touring; the authors Carles Alberola, Joaquín Camps, Marta Toso, Sara Olivas andAnna Marí; the technical and actor team of the Escena Erasmus UV, as well as some past Erasmus actors and actresses.

The tour of Escena Erasmus UV 2025
The tours od Escena Erasmus UV, promoted by the Cultural Area of the Valencian Provincial Council and the IVAJ, are an initiative that pushes forward the European cooperation, young prominence and the cultural stimulation of the valencian towns through theatre and performing arts.

The project combines the artistic creation with an experience of cohabitation and exchange between European university students and the communities of our towns, creating shared reflection spaces and intercultural dialogues.

The Tour 2025 of the Cultural Area of the Valencian Provincial Council will reach eight towns of the province, offering a complete journey that culminates with the theatrical show and an open to public colloquium. This format promotes citizen participation, the critical spirit and the value of the culture as a tool of local development.

On this matter, the representative Francisco Teruel has defended the “culture of European values” that has translated to all the province of Valencia “through theatre giving experiences, cultural exchange and affective relations that will last in time” and has highlighted the importance of “building Europe from the youngest children and young actors.” He has re-marked that Escena Erasmus UV “is a project very well thought and executed, which deals with issues of concern, and to top it off, in out two official languages: valencian and spanish”.

At the same time, the Gira Carnet Jove 2025 del IVAJ goes over six towns of Castellón and Alicante in two shows per day: one for secondary schools and other for general audience. This programme bets for values, like solidarity, tolerance, creativity, peace, giving voice to a compromise and active youth.

Underwritten by the general director Vicente Ripoll, for who “performing arts are the cornerstone of education” and, in that case, with an european and international character that “has to arrive to the town of the Valencian Community”.

Moreover, the Universitat de València takes the show to Ontinyent and Gandia inside the programme UVSociety which allows the production to be presented in the large Echegaray and Serrano theatres..

Escena Erasmus UV is, definitely, an open window to Europe and an opportunity for people to connect with a living, young and transformative culture.

TOUR CALENDAR

• 5, 6 and 7 May: premiere in València, La Nau Cultural Centre of the Universitat
• 8 May: La Nucia (Tour IVAJ)
• 12 May: Benicasim (Tour IVAJ)
• 14 May: Elda (Tour IVAJ)
• 15 May: Almenara (Tour IVAJ)
• 24 May: Bellús (Tour Diputació)
• 7 June: Palma de Gandia (Tour Diputació)
• 9 June: Santa Pola (Tour IVAJ)
• 12 June: Gandia, Teatre Serrano (UVSociety)
• 14 June: Higueruelas (Tour Diputació)
• 17 June: Atzeneta del Maestrat (Tour IVAJ)
• 21 June: Gestalgar (Tour Diputació)
• 25 June: Ontinyent, Teatre Echegaray (UVSociety)
• 28 June: Alcàntera de Xúquer (Tour Diputació)
• 4 July: Marines (Tour Diputació)
• 5 July: Gilet (Tour Diputació)
• 6 July: Mogente (Tour Diputació)

Teenagers: a model example before the emergence
The tours were presented by the Office of the Vice-Principal for Culture and Society, Ester Alba, who has address students to thanked their “scenic vocation with an international look and that this year has not been easy”, after experiencing the flood tragedy: “You have come to Valencia to spend a year of experience and you have found a situation you would never have thought of, becoming a sign of strength, resilience, generosity and model example by turning to the intervention of the first part of the emergence. You are, in addition, great promoters of the decision of the Universitat de València to take the first step in facing the meteorological alert putting yourselves with the people.”

The Vice-Principal Ester Alba has recalled how the Universitat continues being present in the zero zone working in the memory and historical patrimony of valencian people rescue through help programmes and recuperation post-dana like the project “Save the photos” (working with 1.5 million photographs belonging to 800 families); in the music world, with help for the recovery of instruments and the reconstruction of musical societies; and with the art in collaboration with the IVCR+I for the recovery of contemporary works of art.

Likewise, she has emphasised in the work of the Universitat in an “education in prevention, emergency and scientific evidence on climate change, to face in a conscience way based in science” which allows the recovery of the destroyed landscape but also the emotional resilience of the affected population. In the end, “take a step towards a full recovery”.

For the Vice-Principal Carles Padilla, the show premiered this year by Escena Erasmus UV “is the expression of social conscience”, which in Valencia in this moments is “in mourning”. “Escena Erasmus UV has always followed very closely the situations of concern to give a creative response, because as citizens is what we have to do: answer with solidarity, creativity to allow that our feelings can recover”, has affirm.

Carles Padilla has also highlighted the ability of the European theatrical project of the Universitat de València to “connect” with youth before challenges like the day the dana happened and receive a “solidary answer” as the young population demonstrated the first days. “This year we have lived a very special episode and it was necessary, without doubt, dedicate this work to it”, he declared.

16 years, more than 350 cities and 5 awards of recognised prestige
Escena Erasmus is an European theatrical project of the Universitat de València born in 2009. In Escena Erasmus UV mainly participate Erasmus and local students of the Universitat. The objective is to take advantage of their creative potential during the year they spend in Valencia and promote htier participation in the cultural life of the territory.

The shows, which always talk about current events, are lead by a professional team in valencian performing arts. In their 16 year history have been represented in more than 35 cities and in theatre festivals likeAlmagro, Olite, Olmedo, Santander or Alcalá de Henares.

Escena Erasmus UV was awarded with the European Charlemagne Youth Prize 2011 of the European Parliament, the Honourable Mention 2018 of the ‘Promotion of the Cultural and Arts Heritage’ Award of Performing Arts Employers Association League Europe, the AVETID 2019 Award for the best Theatre Project from The Valencian Association of Performing Arts Companies, the Distinction “Lluís Vives”-9 de October 2021 Award from the Valencian Government and the Valencian Performing Arts Honour Award 2023 from the Culture Institute of Valencia - GVA.