The Capitólio, in Parque Mayer, in Lisbon, presents the play “Ifigênia” on November 19th, an initiative of the Spanish Embassy, with the support of the Cervantes Institute and in partnership with the Mérida International Classical Theatre Festival.
This tragedy, inspired by Euripides and Aeschylus, is a journey to the past to rediscover “kilometre zero” of violence against women.
The play “Ifigênia,” which premiered last year at the 70th edition of the Mérida Festival and returned this year to the Roman Theatre of Mérida, is inspired by three classical tragedies: “Iphigenia in Aulis and Hecuba” by Euripides, and “Agamemnon” by Aeschylus. The author, Sílvia Zarco, describes the play as “a work about the extremely high cost women had to pay for men to achieve glory.” The creation, she adds, aims to pose “open questions to the audience,” with the goal of “igniting consciences” and promoting reflection through theatre.
The show also represents a reunion on stage for Juanjo Artero and María Garralón, two of the leading actors in the television series “Verano Azul.”
The Mérida International Classical Theatre Festival is the oldest of its kind in Spain and one of the most prestigious in the world. It takes place annually in July and August at the historic Roman Theatre of Mérida—considered the oldest operating theatre in the world—and, in recent years, has expanded its program to other countries.
At the presentation session for the 2025 edition’s program, held in June at the Teatro Romano – Museu de Lisboa, festival director Jesús Cimarro emphasized that “the Mérida Festival is a major theatrical and cultural reference, not only in Extremadura and Spain, which allows us to strengthen ties with other cities that, like Portugal and Lisbon, share deep cultural roots and landmark archaeological sites, as part of the Roman province of Lusitania, building bridges between the ancient and the contemporary.”
For Joaquim René, director of Capitólio and Teatro Variedades, “hosting ‘Ifigénia’ in Lisbon is more than just hosting a show: it’s opening the doors to an artistic dialogue. It’s also an invitation to the Portuguese public to rediscover classical tragedies through a contemporary and urgent lens. This moment is especially symbolic, as it recalls the cultural bridge that has always existed in Parque Mayer. In the past, this space often hosted Spanish companies and artists, who brought diverse productions to Parque Mayer, enriching Lisbon’s cultural scene and solidifying this space as a meeting point for diverse cultures.”
IFIGÊNIA
- Location: Capitólio, Parque Mayer, Lisbon
- Dates: November 19, 2025 | 9 p.m.
- Tickets: R$10 | Available at BOL and other venues.
- Running time: 90 min. | Age rating: M/12
Always confirm with the concert hall or promoter the access conditions, confirmation of the date and time, ticket sales location, price, and availability.
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