The 49th edition of the Eibar Theater Festival drew its curtains last Friday with the performance of El encargo, presented by the local group La Red. This marked the end of six intense weeks of scenic activity that have once again positioned the city as a cultural benchmark in the region. The closing coincided with World Theater Day, a circumstance that lent special significance to the final day.

During the farewell event, Juanjo Pérez, technician at the Coliseo theater, was responsible for reading this year's institutional message, signed by actor Willem Dafoe. This gesture served to highlight the value of theater as a tool for artistic expression, collective reflection, and a meeting point for audiences of different generations, in an edition that has once again demonstrated Eibar's strong connection with the performing arts.

Over the 46 days of programming, the festival attracted a total of 8,541 spectators, a figure that confirms the healthy state of Eibar's theatrical event. The public responded faithfully to a diverse and balanced offering, which included productions in Basque, Spanish, bilingual formats, and non-textual proposals, creating a plural program open to different sensibilities.

The six plays in Basque, which accounted for 25% of the programming, drew 1,483 attendees, equivalent to 17.36% of the total. Meanwhile, the fifteen performances in Spanish, 62.5% of the program, concentrated 5,959 spectators, or 69.77% of the overall attendance. In addition, 76 people attended the bilingual performance and 1,023 spectators enjoyed the non-textual proposals.

The main exhibition venues, the Coliseo theater and the Educational Complex Theater, jointly registered 7,641 spectators, representing an occupancy rate of 57.30% of the 13,334 tickets put on sale. This data confirms a solid public response, particularly significant due to the high proportion of regular theatergoers from the city.

One of the most notable aspects of this edition has been the loyalty of the local audience. 77.47% of tickets were purchased by individuals holding the Coliseoren Lagunak card, an indicator that reflects the deep roots of these festivals in Eibar and the sustained interest of its citizens in a stable, varied, and high-quality performing arts program.

The stages featured 23 companies and 77 professionals, including actresses, actors, and technical teams. The lineup brought together seasoned performers such as Imanol Arias, accompanied by María Barranco, and prominent figures in the scene like Ane Gabarain or Gema Matarranz. Alongside them, local artists such as Irene Hernando, Jone Laspiur, Nerea Gorriti, and other talents linked to Eibar also played a significant role.

The programming covered a wide thematic range, from comedies about couple relationships and family ties to proposals focused on identity, anorexia, unwanted loneliness, war, or the language of clowning. This variety of registers allowed the audience to experience laughter, emotion, and reflection, solidifying a festival capable of connecting entertainment with critical insight.

The visual identity of the event also held its own weight once again. The poster designed by Baroja Collet, constructed from an original collage, accompanied the promotion of the festival in numerous establishments throughout the city. Its proposal invited the spectator to embark on the journey of the performing arts as another character, sharing with Ulises the symbolic echo of the Odyssey.

Mayor Jon Iraola emphasized that these festivals «reflect Eibar's commitment to culture and the performing arts», while Culture Councilor Andoni Zabala announced that the success of this edition is already driving the preparation for the 50th, with the modernization and digitalization of its historical archive and an enhanced program for the entire year.

Before that anniversary, the cultural calendar will continue in April with Dance Day, the show Ahotsa(k) for the 95th anniversary of the proclamation of the Second Republic in Eibar, the XLI Lower Deba School Theater Exhibition, and the premiere of Escape Room by Txalo, featuring Eibar actress Nerea Gorriti.