The Wild Side of Parc de l’Estació del Nord
As part of La Mercè’s programme, the park hosts a cabaret-style, no-holds-barred evening show created for an adult audience.
This Parc de l’Estació del Nord, where every day during La Mercè you’re greeted by a giant sculpture by Marc Salicrú that looks about to rise as you enter, is a space with many lives. Here you’ll find performances from all sorts of backgrounds (including from Manchester), and scheduled throughout the day for audiences of all ages. But if you’re an adult, come in the evening from 8:30 pm onwards, when the programme takes a sharper, more critical edge—even when inspired by popular tradition—and unleashes its most irreverent and uninhibited humour.
That’s the time for Glam Canalla: Nits al Nord, a show of shows that will keep you thoroughly entertained on Tuesday 23, Friday 26 and Saturday 27. First up is Faraonix King, a Barcelona-based artist who uses the power of drag king performance to lead you through the evening’s eclectic line-up. As he explains, his work is about “performing hegemonic masculinity through parody and critique.”
Among the acts he’ll introduce is Folk as Queer, a contemporary dance piece by L’Esbord that asks how a dissident sexual identity can coexist with traditional identity. The answer might emerge through this recital of Catalan dances and practices, reimagined by a group of performers with non-normative identities (Mercè Català, Carlota Malo, Pere Seda and Marc Udina), who look for references in tradition that have broken with the norm.
If what you’re after is kitsch, self-parody and biting irony, don’t miss Ara ja no es pot dir res by The Feliuettes. Expect surreal characters who question everything, armed with caustic humour, sharp critique and live music. With their punk spirit, the trio take on today’s realities head-on.
And since Christmas isn’t too far away, you might want to warm up your festive spirit with Els Pastorets de la Mercè, a musical revue-style take on the classic Christmas tale by Maria Jover and Gerard Franch. Here, Carolina and Gerard, the children of shepherds who see little future in the family trade, head to the big city in search of opportunity. First challenge: finding decent, affordable housing in Barcelona…
If you want an evening of big laughs and unfiltered takes on today’s world, don’t miss Glam Canalla: Nits al Nord. Check out details about this show and the rest of La Mercè 2025’s programme on the festival’s website.
