Justícia

Power, memory and double standards

After enjoying a brilliant political career in Catalonia’s institutions and an immaculate public life, a prominent judge is confronted by the ghosts that secretly torment his conscience. As his career draws to a close, inherited family pain and accepted double standards threaten to shake the entire edifice of his legacy.

Justícia marked Guillem Clua’s debut at the Sala Gran of the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya and became one of the hits of the season 2019/20, selling out every seat until it was abruptly cancelled after four weeks because of the COVID-19 crisis in March 2020. Directed by Josep Maria Mestres (also the director of La golondrina), Justícia is a monumental play that tells the story of a Catalan bourgeois family with close ties to power from 1939 to the present day. It features more than 20 characters, performed by a stellar cast including Josep Maria Pou, Vicky Peña, Manel Barceló, Anna Sahun, Pere Ponce, Alejandro Bordanove, Marc Bosch, Roger Coma, Anna Ycobalzeta and Katrin Vankova. The spectacular set design is by Paco Azorín and the costumes are by Gabriela Salaverri.

The play unfolds across two extensive acts that move through different moments in Catalonia’s recent history, moments that have shaped our political, social and cultural reality. Through Samuel Gallart’s memories we revisit episodes such as the Beatles’ concert at La Monumental, the democratic transition, the end of the Spanish Civil War, Barcelona’s first LGTBI demonstration and the Banca Catalana case. The play also reflects on contemporary Catalan politics, influenced by the light and shadows of the years of Pujolism.