The Provincial Theater Festival Kicks Off in Villanueva de los Infantes with Children's Storytelling

Three of the best storytellers in the province of Ciudad Real gathered on September 24 in Villanueva de los Infantes for an event that delighted the little ones. The event also marked the start of the 35th edition of the Provincial Theater Festival, an initiative sponsored by the Ciudad Real Provincial Council.

The session, dedicated to children, began with actor and “clown” Aníbal Fernández Laespada (Daimiel), who captivated young and old alike on a journey through the universe via his stories. Next, the duo Cheritrones (Caracuel de Calatrava) introduced the audience to the “Cuentos Blancos” by author Francisco Martínez Ramírez, known as “the Worker from Tomelloso”; in a performance based on “La golondrina” that combined music and puppets to engage the children. Ana Belén Rabadán (Granátula de Calatrava) closed out the storytelling marathon, eliciting laughter and smiles from the audience with her “Elemental Witches.”

The Provincial Theater Festival thus kicked off an edition that, for the first time, will be concentrated in four municipalities: Villanueva de los Infantes, from September 24 to 26; Socuéllamos, from October 1 to 3; Calzada de Calatrava, October 15–17; and Miguelturra, which will host the closing gala on November 14.

The mayor of Villanueva de los Infantes, Carmen María Montalbán, spoke about what it means for the town to kick off the Provincial Theater Festival’s program during the presentation held this Thursday in Ciudad Real. Montalbán highlighted Infantes’ deep-rooted passion for theater, noting that “there is a loyal audience and numerous local groups that devote time and effort to preparing their productions.”