This is an elegant, cheeky stage proposal that pairs Izaskun Barbàrie’s brilliant piano compositions with Gemma Almagro’s foul-mouthed gutter poetry, seasoned with a sarcastic, exasperating and oddly tender monologue. Irreverent and laugh-out-loud funny, it shoots straight at the heart and critical spirit through the alliance of its two characters: a woman in her fifties who has tried every kind of therapy and still doesn’t understand a thing, and a non-binary virtuoso pianist who says it all without uttering a word. Patas Arriba spares no one, always striking a perfect balance between sarcasm and tenderness. A contemporary farce like no other. The most synchronised and wildly mismatched duo of the moment!
Patas Arriba is a performance that premiered in 2020 and has continued to grow thanks to the warm reception of audiences in the various theatres where it has been presented. Gemma Almagro is a lady, poet, storyteller, comedian, and mother—which is no mean feat. Now well past fifty, she has no interest whatsoever in pleasing anyone but herself. The different written and stage registers of this multifaceted artist can be explored on her website: gemmaalmagro.com. Izaskun Barbàrie is a non-binary pianist, composer, and unapologetic cunt. A facilitator DJ in Ecstatic Dance and an actor, they swapped the black dress code and classical stage mannerisms for suspenders, an extreme quiff, and sequinned trainers. Almagro and Barbàrie are living proof that diversity can only enrich the human spirit.
