In the Days of Mr. Muñoz

“In the Days of Mr. Muñoz” [“En temps del Sr. Muñoz”] (2017) was a large-scale community theatre production staged at the former industrial complex of Can Batlló in Barcelona, a nine-hectare textile factory founded in the late nineteenth century and once a central hub of Catalonia’s industrial economy. During the Franco regime, the site was acquired by Julio Muñoz Ramonet, who built an extensive corporate network of nearly forty textile companies. Benefiting from close relations with Francoist authorities, he became a paradigmatic figure of the new post-war economic elite. His empire, initially shaped by speculation and black-market practices, declined as Spain’s market evolved and industrial production weakened.

The production, created by ARTIXOC in collaboration with local residents, historians and cultural institutions, involved 131 participants, including 47 amateur actors aged between 6 and 80. Many had personal or family ties to the factory. The dramaturgy was based on documented sources, oral testimonies and historical research, and was developed with the guidance of a historical advisor. The immersive performance unfolded across six different locations within the industrial site, combining theatre, scenography, music and audiovisual elements in a 90-minute itinerant experience.

By transforming the factory into both stage and living archive, the project turned the territory itself into a pedagogical space. More than a theatrical event, it became a collective act of remembrance and reinterpretation. Through coordinated institutional support and strong community involvement, the production demonstrated how participatory theatre can foster deep learning, shared heritage and social cohesion in contexts of urban transformation.

ARTIXOC is a non-profit cultural organisation founded in 1998 in Barcelona. It develops projects in performing arts, arts education and community memory with a strong social and territorial perspective. Its methodology combines participatory theatre, historical research and co-creation with local communities. It works with children, young people and adults in both urban and rural contexts, promoting social cohesion and heritage preservation. Escena Històrica (Historic Stage) is one of its most recognised programmes.

For further information, please visit: artixoc.org /  escenahistorica.cat 

Àgia Luna