Not My Monkeys

It’s not that we want to be happy, we’re forced to be. And if we don’t manage, it’s our own fault. It seems mad, but that’s the way things are today. And that’s the message of this theatre company, which inquires into the meaning of identity in all its variations.

At a large conference, guru Ray Rex motivates a crowd, sharing the keys to unlocking each person’s potential on a path that takes his followers from failure to happiness and, along the way, increases the business productivity of the multinational Sahara Drinks, which is hosting the event. Another smile, because Sahara Drinks promotes ‘happytalism’ among all its employees. After all, it’s a win-win situation and the company is one big happy family. 

Trini is happy to be a ‘Sahi’, an affectionate nickname given to this company’s employees, and she smiles a lot... in fact, she never stops smiling. She doesn’t stop smiling when her colleagues unionise. She doesn’t stop smiling when there are dismissals. Another smile and a thank-you: thank you for teaching us that it’s never too late to learn that a dismissal can be an enriching experience. Especially when someone else is being dismissed, of course.  More smiles and a letter (oh yes, the letter!). A letter that may well freeze Trini’s smile and become the seed of a revolution...

This is the second show by Cia. 42KM, which is made up of the performers and creators Rafa Delacroix, Diana Gómez and Georgina Latre and the playwright Manel Moreno. After long solo careers on stage, they decided to join forces in 2019 with the creation of their first show of the same name, 42KM, directed by Roger Torns. 

In this show, they have enlisted the director Martí Torras Mayneris, an artist of many talents and the creator of the companies Rhum & Cia and Clownx Teatre, who has written and directed more than 60 shows exploring the connections between theatre, circus, dance and live music.

Not My Monkeys was first presented as a dramatised reading at the Teatre Eòlia in July 2023 as part of the Batec del Grec programme, and now it’s taking the next step with this production.

Co-produced by Teatre Eòlia Produccions and Grec 2024 Festival de Barcelona.