DRAMATISED TOURS
The Caldes de Malavella Dramatised Tours, which are organised every year, are fun, entertaining visits to the different corners of Caldes led by a three actors that transport us back in time to the town’s Roman and Christian periods. The tours will last approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, although the evening will continue afterwards with coques, Caldes water and cava tasting
The guides describe events that occurred in the town, going back to ancient times. From prehistory, where they explain the latest palaeontological discoveries in Camp dels Ninots, to Roman and Christian times, when the first repopulations took place. They describe how people lived in medieval times within the walled town and how they later began to break free from their confined past. They also explain how its waters gained value to such an extent that they changed the small town’s appearance. The use of thermal water and the creation of spas lead us to mention the summer residents of the first half of the 20th century and what they represented to Caldes.
Accompanied by three actor-guides, visitors are taken on an original, entertaining tour during which they are introduced to three very special characters, Remei, Antoniu and Fonsu, by going over the highlights of previous seasons, including new gags and, above all, an ever-present sense of humour.
ELS "GUIES UFISSIALS"
Remei: They say she used to clean houses with her mother when she was a little girl. Even back then she wouldn’t stop chatting and didn’t clean a thing. That is why nowadays she makes a living cleaning houses, chatting and selling vegetables to visitors on the side. Those who know her say she “chats, chats, chats but says nothing”. She doesn’t have a car or a motorbike but she somehow always finds somebody to take her places. She’s been on the lookout for a boyfriend for years, but people have lost all hope that she’ll ever find one. She has lived in Caldes her entire life, but no one knows exactly where she lives or when she was born. She always goes to church and that makes her the church expert of "Els Guies Ufissials".
Antoniu: He lives on his own in a house that belongs to his aunt, who is in a home. He’s never worked for one company for more than two days. He has done a bit of everything: he has been a builder, painter, sweeper, security guard, coconut salesman in Lloret, stamp vendor... He lives off unemployment and disability benefits, charities and his aunt’s savings. He’s never had a stable relationship either and he’s often been seen driving his Mobilette around Barcelona's Chinese quarter. He is the founder of the "Friends of Coffee with Brandy" group. He knows every bar in town and has his own daily route from one drink to the next. After 6 pm, he doesn’t mind telling a few lies, in fact, when he has had any problems in the past, it’s usually because he told the truth. He’s the boss of the "Els Guies Ufissials" group and exploits Remei and Fonsu.
Fonsu: It is impossible to determine his age. He is a huge fan of sardanes, the traditional Catalan dance. This explains why he is the founder and sole member of the "Sardanes, you’re so great!" group. According to his mother, he began dancing sardanes in his crib. He likes to help anyone who asks him to, he irons the shirts of the Caldirinets dance group members, acts as prompter for the Caldes theatre group and he's a radio broadcaster with a programme dedicated to sardanes. He still lives at home with his parents, who support him. Last year, the three kings brought him one of those cars that you can drive without a license. That day he began to help the Llagostera and Cassà sardana groups. He doesn’t speak much when he’s with ”Els Guies Ufissials”, but when he does he hits the nail on the head.
Els Guies Ufissials is the name of the company formed by actress Mireia Peña and actors Miquel Noguer and Marc Ciurana. The three are strongly linked to the region of Girona’s Performing Arts scene. They are members of the Girona Theatre Association and are involved in acting, teaching and the media. Since the summer of 2001, they have taken part as actors in the dramatised guided tours of Caldes, the town of springs, where they have performed for over 4,000 people. In 2004, the Caldes de Malavella Town Council hired them to create and represent different dramatised tours and it is then that they formed the group Els Guies Ufissials. Due to the success and popularity of their characters (Remei, Antoniu and Fonsu) they were asked to inaugurate the town’s 2005 Festa Major festivities with a highly theatrical opening speech. After summer, Els Guies Ufissials will be presenting two street performances at the 1st Caldes de Malavella Water Festival. They realise that the characters they play connect with audiences of all ages. In fact, they are clowns who have taken off their red noses, making them more human and bringing them closer to the public. The group is now going one step further, presenting Remei, Antoniu and Fonsu onstage in an unofficial version of “Els Pastorets” by Folch i Torres. It was a resounding success: over 500 people watched the three shows presented during the Christmas holidays. They are currently busy creating this year’s Caldes de Malavella Dramatised Visits which they have called "Aquest any 5inc" (Five this year).
|