El fil invisible at Teatre Goya, Barcelona Review
Written by Laura for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review.
El fil invisible (The Invisible String) is returning to Barcelona after an incredibly successful season in 2024, with more than 30,000 viewers across its Barcelona run and subsequent tour around Catalonia.
Based on Miriam Tirado’s children’s book of the same name, the story focuses on Miriam herself as she comes up with a story about Nura, a little girl who discovers a secret: there’s an invisible thread coming out of her bellybutton that connects her to the people she loves, no matter how far they may be in time or space.
The text, written by Alícia Serrat, expands slightly on the show by adding Miriam, the author, as a narrator; she serves as an adult voice to break down the most difficult concepts and to add some dynamism between the children’s scenes. They also expand on the character of Àlex, whose dad is usually away for work, by adding a more serious layer in a way that is completely understandable for kids and also highlights how they can also deal with difficult situations, even if they’re young. I found this to be a really beautiful touch that can help kids in these situations deal with them better, but that can also make other children more likely to understand them.
I was surprised but pleased by the music, created by Alícia Serrat and Víctor Arbelo. The songs were perfectly suitable for children, but at the same time, they felt very modern and trendy. The lyrics were well thought out, and beautiful, complex harmonies were added that gave it cohesion and a musical theatre feel. The choreography by Oscar Reyes was also carefully made to look proficient, but at the same time, easy to copy for children at home while they listen to their favourite tracks.
The set looks simple at first glance, a wall made from books to highlight how literature can help us shape our worldview. From that wall, however, different items could be extracted, like a bathtub or a bed, easily going back to normal when needed.
Beth acts as the author, narrating as she goes while also embodying the rest of the adult characters, like Nura’s mum or her teacher. She uses different clothing accessories but even switches up her accent to differentiate the characters, which I thought was a clever trick. She has a lovely voice and a sweet demeanor that makes the whole experience very enjoyable.
Aina Serra plays Nura. Energetic and kind, she embodies Nura’s character very well, with a sweet voice that shines in her solos. The rest of the actors who play Nura’s friends did a great job embodying their unique characters and giving them little quirks to make them more human. These are Aina da Silva as Lia, Rubén Albadalejo as Quim, and Javi Vélez as Àlex, who had a beautiful and moving solo as well.
Some of the harmonies in the first songs sounded a bit strange, I’m unsure if it was an audio issue or something else, it did improve throughout the show and by the end, everything worked like a well-oiled machine.
El fil invisible is a show aimed at children, and yet it never felt overly simple or dumbed down. It is a beautiful family show that focuses on human connection while delivering gorgeous and curated songs for the whole family to enjoy.
The show is currently playing in Barcelona until February 8th, in Catalan at Teatre Goya, but it’s simultaneously being played in Madrid as well, in Spanish, at Teatro Alcázar until February 28th. Both versions of the album are also available on most streaming platforms.
★★★★
