a traditional Catalan Christmas play
In Agora Sant Cugat International School, our own languages and culture are a starting point to foster an international open-mindedness and respect for other ideas and cultures so students can develop academically, socially and emotionally.
Drama and theatre play an important role in our education project so students can develop their performance skills and improve their interaction with others in a public and interpersonal way. For over thirty years at Christmas, our first year Baccalaureate students have presented the theatrical and musical production Els Pastorets (The Little Shepherds). It is a traditional Catalan Christmas play that is done in many theatres all around Catalunya with a plot that, in a humorous way, combines the birth of Jesus, the struggle of good and evil between angels and demons and various stories told by shepherds who remember the first Christmas.
Our students create their own adaptation of the classic Els Pastorets by Folch and Torres assisted by the actress and theatre director, Mone Teruel, and entitled this year’s play “While Rehearsing the Little Shepherds” with part of the script taken from real conversations our students had while rehearsing the play. Rehearsals began in October and they were helped by our Vocational Training teachers and students who assisted them behind the scenes with the lighting and sound.
Initially, it was going to be a live function for friends, students and families in the School’s Auditorium Josep Carreras but this was not possible due to the worsening situation of the pandemic. Our students refused to give up and they proposed the recording of the play so it could be uploaded on YouTube for everyone to enjoy. They also offered everyone the possibility of being able to purchase the recording with all proceeds going towards funding their end-of-year trip.
We are immensely proud of our students’ positive attitudes, fighting spirits and ingenuity when dealing with performing their play in pandemic times and are SO grateful to them for keeping the tradition alive!
