Lope de Vega’s Los Locos de Valencia Opens New Season at Teatros del Canal
- Teatros del Canal in Madrid has officially opened its new performing arts season with Los locos de Valencia, a fresh theatrical take on the classic comedy by Lope...
- The staging brings a renewed perspective to the classic work through a version adapted by José Luis Alonso de Santos and directed by Pepa Pedroche.
- The story follows Floriano, a character who flees to Valencia after believing he has killed Prince Reinero during a romantic dispute.
Teatros del Canal in Madrid has officially opened its new performing arts season with Los locos de Valencia, a fresh theatrical take on the classic comedy by Lope de Vega. The production runs in the Sala Verde from September 1 to September 20.
Production Details and Creative Team
The staging brings a renewed perspective to the classic work through a version adapted by José Luis Alonso de Santos and directed by Pepa Pedroche. The production is a collaborative effort by the Comunidad de Madrid for Teatros del Canal, in coproducción with Clubmedia Network and the Complejo del Teatro San Martín de Buenos Aires. The adaptation aims to bridge the gap between the Golden Age classic and contemporary audiences by integrating music, humor, and a dynamic mise-en-scène designed for all ages. The production features a cast of twelve performers on stage, bringing a vibrant energy to the venue’s opening weeks.
Plot and Central Themes
The story follows Floriano, a character who flees to Valencia after believing he has killed Prince Reinero during a romantic dispute. To escape justice, he feigns madness and admits himself to a hospital. There, he encounters Elvira, who has been interned after being deceived and abandoned. This meeting sparks a complex plot filled with mistaken identities and deceptions. Adaptor José Luis Alonso de Santos highlights the central philosophical question driving the narrative:
“la eterna pregunta, que aquí se hace sensual y artística en escena, es si nos enamoramos porque estamos locos, o si al contrario: nos volvemos locos al enamorarnos”.
Director Pepa Pedroche uses this core premise to anchor the artistic vision, emphasizing love, humor, beauty, poetry, and optimism to build a fantasy world around the viewer.
Cast and Ensembles
The twelve-member ensemble features actors from the Spanish and international stage. The cast includes Arturo Querejeta, Daniel Muriel, Florencia Otero, Jacobo Dicenta, Xavi Caudevilla / Pepe Sevilla, Guillermo Calero, Antonia Paso, Ángeles Martín, Lucila Gandolfo, Carlos Manrique Sastre, Alberto Vela, and Beatriz Fernández. The production remains on the bill at the Sala Verde until September 20, marking the official launch of the Madrid venue’s season.