Teatro a Mil 2026 Kicks Off with Over 15,000 Attendees in Santiago and Across Chile

Original article: Con más de 15 mil espectadores arrancó Teatro a Mil 2026 en Santiago y Regiones

With an open celebration in a public space and the participation of over 15,000 spectators, the 33rd edition of the Festival Internacional Teatro a Mil launched on January 3, 2026, presented by the Fundación Teatro a Mil.

This year, the leading performing arts platform in Latin America will run until January 25, 2026, under the theme «It Matters.»

The opening took place at Alameda with Zenteno (Santiago) at 8:00 PM, featuring the presentation of ‘El Gigante y los niños Wara Wara’ (Chile), a large-scale parade created by the iconic company La Patogallina.

Specifically designed for public spaces, the performance tells the story of two time travelers who arrive in our cities searching for a sleeping giant. The show began its journey at Plaza de la Ciudadanía, moved along the Alameda, and concluded in Plaza de la Constitución, captivating more than 8,000 attendees.

Simultaneously, programming also commenced in Antofagasta with the presentation of ‘Apesanteur’ by Royal de Luxe, the same company that previously staged ‘La Pequeña Gigante.’

The Municipal Theater of Iquique hosted ‘Acreedores’, a play by August Strindberg featuring a cast led by Francisco Reyes, Paloma Moreno, and Mario Horton, directed by Alexis Moreno.

On Saturday, Teatro a Mil also launched its indoor programming, highlighted by the reopening of ‘Mister Shakespeare’ (Chile) at the Centro Cultural GAM, a play written and starring playwright Marco Antonio de la Parra (honored by the Festival Teatro a Mil 2026), directed by Pablo Schwarz.

This production offers an intimate and insightful reflection on the theatrical craft, writing, and memory, intertwining humor, autobiography, and examinations of the legacy of the «Bard of Avon» in contemporary theater.

Carmen Romero Quero, director of Fundación Teatro a Mil, emphasized the importance of culture in building a better society and underscored the festival’s commitment to bringing theater closer to people.

«The arts keep us united and make us envision other possible realities. That’s why it’s crucial for children to grow up with access to theater and performing arts, fostering community and generating new dialogues to connect with our own humanity. This is why we are here every year in January, as it has become a beautiful national tradition, celebrating the month of theater. Culture does matter,» stated Carmen Romero.

Meanwhile, Martín Erazo, director of La Patogallina, which is celebrating 20 years of artistic journey, discussed the creative process behind the parade that opened the programming, noting that it will soon be seen in other regions.

«We have been working on this show for a long time, pouring in a lot of love. We were able to research and reconnect with an element that is so crucial to our national identity, the giant of Tarapacá, a geoglyph from centuries ago, part of the region’s heritage. For us, it’s essential to always make this connection with our identity and our heritage,» commented Martín Erazo.

First Days of the Festival

The programming in the Metropolitan Region will feature both national and international performances that engage with contemporary languages and artistic reinterpretations.

Among the highlights is ‘Parcas. The Voice, the Eye, the Flesh’ (Spain), a work showcasing contemporary flamenco dance to explore symbolic figures of destiny, life, and the presence of the body on stage; ‘Cautivo (Side A)’ (Chile), which intensely reflects on confinement and domination; ‘Dúo’ (Chile), focusing on intimate dramaturgy centered on the relationship between two performers and the emotional tensions they experience; and ‘Bodas de sangre’ (Chile), a reinterpretation of the classic by Federico García Lorca, emphasizing its tragic and poetic strength in a contemporary setting.

Initial recommendations for street programming include impactful visual proposals that invite reflection on collective themes.

‘Océano: the Fish Flood the Street’ (Chile) combines movement, figures, and urban space to bring marine images into everyday life, reflecting on the relationship between nature and humanity. This line is complemented by ‘TR Edition: Life is but a dream’ (South Korea), an international performative intervention that blurs the boundaries between reality and dream in public space.

Outside the Metropolitan Region, and as part of recommendations for the festival’s first days, programming will also include ‘Acreedores’ and ‘Apesanteur’, as well as ‘Mr. Bo’ (Spain) in the Tarapacá Region (Tarapacá A Mil); ‘El Gigante Egoísta’ (Chile) in Valparaíso; and ’31 Minutos: Don Quijote’ (Chile) in Frutillar, Los Lagos Region.

By the Numbers

In its 33rd edition, the Festival Internacional Teatro a Mil features over 100 performances, including both indoor shows and free presentations, with participation from companies from 20 countries across 8 regions and 39 communes in Chile, reaffirming its decentralizing vocation and commitment to democratic access to culture.

The complete program, along with detailed reviews of each work and their respective links, dates, and times, is available at www.teatroamil.cl.

The Citizen