There is a sacred ritual that is repeated every summer in the heart of Mijas Pueblo. When the heat of the day gives way to the gentle breeze from the mountains, the Miguel González Berral Auditorium becomes a temple of stories beneath a dome of stars. It is the Villa de Mijas Theatre Festival, a spellbinding event that in 2025 marked its thirty-ninth edition. After the rhythmic and recycled thunder of 'Trash' on Thursday 24th, the weekend took us on a journey through three different worlds, three ways of understanding art and life, three heartbeats that resonated in the soul of a devoted audience.

As custodian of this legacy, the councillor for Culture, Juan Carlos Maldonado (PMP), underlined the importance of an event that has long been an emblem of Andalusia. "This is the 39th year of a festival with a long history, a benchmark in the world of culture and theatre, but we will continue to work to give it the status that Mijas deserves", he said, aware that a milestone is approaching: the 40th anniversary.

A master's whisper 

On the night of Friday 25th, the stalls fell into an almost reverent silence. On stage, a 95-year-old giant, Héctor Alterio, recited the verses of his life in 'Una pequeña historia' (A Short Story). Accompanied on the piano by Juan Esteban Cuacci, his voice became a whisper of memory, a nostalgic tango that told of exile and love. "It’s a little story that I hope will become something big so that the audience enjoys it, is moved, and applauds", said the master. And boy, did he succeed.

 

"We are very lucky to be able to enjoy such a long-lived and wonderful actor", acknowledged Irene Barroso from the audience. Her friend Miguel Pérez, a regular at the festival, declared that "he is a formidable actor". Nearby, Baltasar Angulo highlighted the magic of such a powerful live performance, stating that "it's not like cinema, it's more professional". But it was in the voice of Gabriela Iañez that the emotion found its deepest echo, especially because she is also Argentinean: "It's his essence, it's Argentina. It's the beating of the heart saying 'I'm home'".

Laughter as a trench

From whispers to roars of laughter. The Yllana theatre company, an old friend of Mijas, returned on Saturday with 'War baby', an anti-war satire as absurd as it is sharp. "It's a comedy without words, where a baby dictator causes senseless wars, like all wars", explained actor Fidel Fernández.

Some may find the story of a baby dictator provoking an armed conflict absurd, but that’s only because they’ve never had a baby in their arms…

 

The audience, which once again filled the venue, embraced the performance. "Everyone, not just locals, but people from outside the town, look forward to this festival", said Pilar Núñez, who the next day would swap her seat for the stage as an actress with Teatro Mijas. Others, such as Dulce María Blanco, stumbled upon the event by chance: "We were out for a ride on our motorbike and saw the auditorium. Someone told us there was a free show, so we decided to stay". It was a night for family enjoyment, as Cecilia Aguilera confirmed: “It’s the first time I’ve come this year because I was working, and we came to have a laugh".

The pulse of the local scence

The closing of the festival, as tradition dictates, had a local flavour. Teatro Mijas took a chance with 'Una libra de carne' (A Pound of Flesh), a bold reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s 'The Merchant of Venice'. Its director, the classic Manuel España, highlighted the care taken with the staging, noting that "the make-up is done by us, the farce mask is to make it clear that the play is a farce". The audience embraced the company, appreciating not only the performance but also the relevance of its message. "I really liked the theme, I think it's even relevant today because of how it deals with labour exploitation", said Valle Galindo after the performance.Rafael Rojas shared the sentiment: “It was a bit long, but very entertaining, with a very good cast".

 

Thus, with the voice of its own people, the 39th Villa de Mijas Theatre Festival brought down the metaphorical curtain. Four nights, four heartbeats, one round of applause. The ritual has been fulfilled. Long live theatre.

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