As part of the MusEkintza program, promoted by the Bizkaia Provincial Council, the La Encartada museum presents an original theatrical performance that transforms spectators into detectives. The plot is set during the 1937 Spanish Civil War, where the disappearance of a blanket from the production line hides a potential coded message.
This experience divides visitors into four groups, who tour the museum's facilities guided by actors portraying factory characters. These characters, such as the owner, the seamstress, or the foreman, sow doubts and contradictions, forcing participants to use their detective skills to piece together the facts and uncover the truth behind the lost blanket.
“"It hasn't even started yet and I'm already excited! A beautiful place."
The play, directed by Marta Urcelay, features a cast including Gurutze Beitia, Itziar Lazcano, Leire Orbe, Josu Angulo, and Alfonso Díez. It has been specifically conceived for this location, structuring a mystery around “fragmented memories and half-truths.” The factory's Jacquard loom is key to solving the plot, as it was used to insert secret codes into the lost blanket.
This theatrical initiative highlights the importance of the La Encartada museum, which in 2019 received recognition from the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH) as an anchor point. The museum's machinery, mostly English and original from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, has been constantly maintained, solidifying its status as a benchmark.
At the end of the performance, the groups gather to share their hypotheses and unravel the intrigue. The play not only evokes past events but also underscores the relevance of working for memory, the future, and freedom in contemporary society.
