You might wonder what we are doing talking about Pastorets in May. It might seem premature: nougat, galets, and carols are still far away. But when a tradition is recovered after so many years, it's better to be safe than sorry and start preparing it in advance. And Sant Joan Despí had not performed the play since the mid-50s! Now, more than half a century later, a group of five young people from the municipality has taken a step forward to recover one of the most deeply rooted theatrical traditions of Catalan popular culture and turn it, once again, into an open, intergenerational, and participatory event.
Recovering a tradition with historical roots
The performance of the Pastorets had been part of the cultural life of Sant Joan Despí for decades, although there is no exact record of when it began or when it stopped being performed. Oral testimonies place it linked to the old Filles de Maria, an entity founded at the beginning of the 20th century and the origin of what would later be the current Esplai El Castanyot, formally created in 1969.
Earlier we said that since the mid-50s there has been no performance of the play in the municipality, and, technically, this is not entirely true. Since 1976, the Esplai has kept the flame of the Pastorets alive, performing the play with children, young people, and families linked to the entity, becoming the only stable and public representation during all this time.
Now, however, the will is to go a step further and expand the scope of the project to the entire city. “We want everyone to be able to participate: people of all ages, with or without experience. To enjoy culture all together and re-root this tradition in Sant Joan Despí,” explain the promoters.
A young initiative with the support of the cultural fabric
The initiative is born from the shared concern of David, Maria, Júlia, Sergi, and Biel, all between 23 and 27 years old and linked to the world of theater or to Castanyot itself. The idea had been circulating among some members of the group for some time, especially after observing that Sant Joan Despí was one of the few municipalities in Baix Llobregat without consolidated popular Pastorets beyond the scope of the Esplai. “At a time of maximum associative fabric and projects like the Seguici, in which entities collaborate more than ever, it was ideal to give birth to this initiative,” they emphasize.
The project has the support of the Foment Cultural i Artístic de Sant Joan Despí, an entity dedicated to promoting associative activities of the municipality, which has ceded its theater for rehearsals and future performances.
Premiere scheduled for Christmas
Although they are still working on the organization and production of the show, the group already has clear the performance dates: December 27, January 2 and 3. Ticket sales will presumably open after the summer. Meanwhile, the goal is to consolidate the artistic and technical team and start rehearsals to offer a quality proposal.
The first step will be the popular casting, which will take place next Friday, May 29, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Esplai El Castanyot. However, if you want to participate, don't dally! The registration form will close this Sunday, at which point the scripts will be sent to the participants so they can prepare during the week. When registering, each person can indicate which characters they would like to interpret.
The promoters emphasize that no prior experience is necessary, only a desire to have a good time and be part of a new cultural adventure for the municipality. “We are very excited and will do everything in our power for the public to enjoy a quality work and want to participate in future editions,” they assure, looking to the future. For now, however, this year's edition must be prepared. The countdown has already begun: in seven days the first casting of the new history of the Pastorets de Sant Joan Despí will be held.
