Grec-76: Theatre as a claim for rupture during the Spanish Transition in Barcelona

Abstract

The death of General Franco in 1975 marked a significant turning point that initiated what we now recognize as the Spanish Transi­tion. In recent years, there has been considerable historiographic debate surrounding whether this period should be characterized as a peaceful re­form or a rupture from the preceding order. Theatre offers a unique per­spective in this debate, as it is a dynamic art form intricately connected to its societal context. In this regard, the summer season organized by the Assemblea d’Actors i Directors (Directors’ and Actors’ Assembly) in Barce­lona during 1976 represented a moment of vindication and unity for the theatre industry. It stands as one of the most emblematic moments of the Transition in Barcelona, remembered and commemorated for years to come. This event serves as an illustration of the social and cultural ruptures experienced in the early years following Franco’s death.