“Check out the highlights on what's happening this week in Ben Jones’ guide” - Art Nouveau pioneer Alphonse Mucha's advertising posters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which inspired the psychedelic art movement six decades later, are in town.

FESTIVALS

Fiestas del 2 de Mayo
One of the capital’s most important dates on the fiesta calendar is extra special this year as the Comunidad de Madrid celebrates the 200th anniversary of the 1808 uprising against the occupying forces of Napoleon. Reinactments, exhibitions, plays, film screenings, concerts and other events are scheduled in the city and surrounding region. For schedule and venues see: www.munimadrid.es and www.madrid.org

until 11 May
___________________________
Madrid International Humour Festival
Comedians and comic troupes from Russia, China, Belgium, Japan, France and Spain perform nightly during the 14th edition of the annual festival. See www.teatroalfil.com for details.

Until 11 May

Schedule: 6:30pm or 8:30pm
Price: EUR 15

Teatro Alfil
Pez, 10
28004
91.521.58.27
 

THEATRE AND DANCE

La Música
Marguerite Duras’ story of love, jealousy and passion as an estranged couple reunite in a hotel room after two years of separation to finalise their divorce. Starring Celia Freijeiro and Alberto Maneiro. 

Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30pm. Sunday, 7pm
Price: EUR 14-20

Teatro Figaro-Adolfo Marsillach
Doctor Cortezo, 5
28012
91.360.08.29
_______________________
La Leyenda del Beso
Once famous but now largely forgotten, this zarzuela with music by Reveriano Soutullo and Juan Vert dates from the mid-1920s when the genre was beginning to lose its audience to the new-fangled movie houses. With Manuel Lanza and Aquiles Machado.

Until 25 May

Schedule: Wednesday and Sunday, 6pm. Thursday through Saturday, 8pm.
Price: EUR 16-40

Teatro Zarzuela
Jovellanos, 4
28014
91.524.54.10
_______________________
Tanquera
A young French woman immigrates to Buenos Aires where she falls in with the tango crowd in this excellent musical by Diego Romay featuring 30 dancers. The play was a nightly sell out during its first Madrid run five years ago. 

Indefinite

Schedule: Wednesday and Thursday, 9pm. Friday and Saturday, 7pm and 10pm. Sunday, 5pm and 8pm.
Price: EUR 20-50

Nuevo Teatro Alcala
Jorge Juan, 62
28009
91.426.47.49
_______________________
El Incorruptible
Portuguese comedian Hélder Costa wrote and stars in this satirical monologue about political corruption which has toured the United Kingdom, Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, France and Switzerland.

Until 11 May

Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30pm. Sunday, 7pm
Price: EUR 12-16

Teatro Español
Príncipe, 25
28012
91.360.14.84

___________________________
La Paz Perpetua
Dramatist Juan Mayorga borrowed the title of one of Immanuel Kant’s last works for this play by the Centro Dramático Nacional exploring moral and ethical issues in the fight against terrorism through the story of three canines competing to be the best anti-terrorist police dog on the force. José Luis Gómez directs.

Until 8 June

Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30pm. Sunday, 7:30pm
Price: EUR 11-18

Teatro María Guerrrero
Tamayo y Baus, 4
28004
91.310.15.00
________________________ 
Diálogos
The experimental theatre group La Pajarita de Papel stages a work based on surrealist passages from Federico Garcia Lorca’s poems and writings. 

Until 2 July

Schedule: Thursday through Sunday, 9pm
Price: EUR 12

La Puerta Estrecha
Cabeza, 12
28012
91.467.22.24
________________________ 
Las Cuñadas (The Sisters-in-Law)
When it debuted in Montreal in 1968, novelist and playwright Michel Tremblay’s comedy shook up Canadian theatre with its depiction of working-class women and satire on mid-20th century Quebec morals. This version boasts 15 of Spain’s finest stage actresses.

Until 18 May

Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, 8pm. Sunday, 6pm
Price: EUR 10-22

Teatro Español
Príncipe, 25
28012
91.360.14.84
_______________________
El Pintor de su Deshonra
La Compañía Nacional de Teatro Clásico dusts off one of the great Spanish dramatist Calderon de la Barca’s least known but most fascinating works exploring one of his favourite themes: honour.
   
Until 25 May

Schedule: Tuesday and Sunday, 7pm. Wednesday through Saturday, 8pm
Price: EUR 18

Teatro Pavón
Embajadores, 9
28012
91.528.28.19
_______________________
Cavalia
A spectacular show for the whole family featuring exceptionally trained horses, acrobats, live music and multi-media gimmicks. An equestrian Cirque du Soleil.

Until 11 May

For tickets and times see www.cavalia.net

La Gran Carpa Blanca
Calle Dulce Chacon, 47
28050
_______________________
Jesucristo Superstar
More than three decades after it took the West End and Broadway by storm and changed musical theatre for ever, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s classic rock musical returns to Madrid for an extended stay.

Opens 20 September for an indefinite run

Schedule: Tuesday through Thursday, 8:30pm. Friday and Saturday, 6pm and 10pm. Sunday, 7pm.
Price: EUR 20-65

Teatro Lope de Vega
Gran Vía, 57
91.547.20.11
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La Bella y La Bestia (The Beauty and the Beast)
Disney’s lavish Spanish stage production of the classic fairytale (and hit film) which has been thrilling children of all ages around the world. 

Opens 4 October

Schedule: Tuesday through Thursday, 8:30pm. Friday and Saturday, 6pm and 10pm. Sunday, 6pm.
Price: EUR 25-65

Coliseum
Gran Vía, 78
91.547.66.12
______________________
Campillo, el Corazon de las Piedras
Pepe Ortega wrote and directs this drama about two brothers in the Basque country, one a cop and one a member of ETA, which explores issues such as communication, varying points of view and how to overcome differences of opinion.

Until 18 May

Schedule: Friday through Sunday, 8:30pm
Price: EUR 12

Teatro Itaca
Canarias, 41
91.528.91.70
_______________________
El Diario de Ana Frank
The controversial musical about the Jewish girl and her family hiding out from the Nazis in a friend’s attic in Amsterdam.

Indefinite

Schedule: Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30pm. Friday and Saturday, 6pm and 10pm. Sunday, 7pm
Price: EUR 23-50

Teatro Haagen-Dazs
Atocha, 18
28012
91.420.37.97


CINEMA

Stop-Loss (Ausente)
A decorated Iraq War hero, picking up the pieces of his life after returning to his Texas home, is torn between duty to country and loyalty to family and friends when the Army orders him back for another tour. 

Opens 9 May 

Directed by Kimberly Peirce (“Boys Don’t Cry”)
Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Abbie Cornish and Channing Tatum
_______________________
La Antena
An entire city loses its voice and the sinister Mr. TV, who owns the only television station in town, sets out to subject all the citizens to his will. Filmed in black and white, this silent Argentine film wracked up a number of awards in international film festivals. 

Opens 9 May

Directed by Esteban Sapir
Starring: Alejandro Urdapilleta, Rafael Ferro and Florencia Raggi.
_______________________
La Duquesa de Langeais (Ne Touchez Pas la Hache)
Director Jacques Rivette’s adaptation of the Balzac tale of a love story between a general and a duchess.

Opens 2 May

Starring: Jeanne Balibar and Guillaume Depardieu
_______________________
Lars and the Real Girl
A shy young man living in a small town brings home his dream girl – an inflatable sex doll he bought on the Internet. His family thinks he’s nuts but the rest of the town goes along with his delusion.

Opens 25 April

Directed by Craig Gillespie
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer and Paul Schneider
________________________
3 Días (Before the Fall)
Antonio Banderas produced this award-winning film about how the residents of a small town in Andalusia react when they learn the world is going to end in 72 hours with a meteorite strike.

Opens 25 April

Directed by F. Javier Gutierrez
Starring: Víctor Clavijo, Mariana Cordero and Eduard Fernandez
________________________
Rendition
After an Arab goes missing on his way back home to Washington, his American wife and a CIA analyst join forces to free him from a secret interrogation facility somewhere overseas. 

Opens 18 April 

Directed by Gavin Hood
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal and Alan Arkin
________________________
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers
On a visit to the United States to visit his recently-divorced daughter, an elderly Chinese man becomes involved with an Iranian woman. Grand Prize winner at last year’s San Sebastian Film Festival. 

Opens 18 April 

Directed by Wayne Wang
Starring: Henry O, Faye Yu and Vida Ghahremani
________________________
The Band’s Visit
In this gentle comedy, an Egyptian police brass band gets lost on its way to a gig and ends up stuck in a small Israeli desert town where the musicians and locals either loathe one another or end up together in the sack.

Opens 11 April

Directed by Eran Kolirin
Starring: Sasson Gabai, Ronit Elkabetz and Saleh Bakri
_______________________
Todos Estamos Invitados
One of the more intelligent films about the troubled Basque country with a university professor, played by the excellent José Coronado, threatened by ETA.

Opens 11 April

Directed by Manuel Gutierrez
Starring: Oscar Jaenada and Vanessa Incontrada
_______________________
Shine a Light
Two years after his ground-breaking documentary on Bob Dylan, director and passionate rock ‘n’ roll fan Martin Scorsese gives us his take on the Rolling Stones.

Opens 4 April 
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The Savages
This dark, romantic comedy and family tragedy with deep psychological currents wowed American critics, not least thanks to the sterling performances by Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney as estranged siblings who reunite to deal with their demented dad. 

Opens 4 April

Directed by Tamara Jenkins
_______________________
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Director Julian Schnabel got an Oscar nomination for this true story of a Frenchman totally paralyzed by a stroke who tells his story to a very patient therapist through spelling out words by blinking one eye.

Opens 1 February

Starring: Mathieu Amalric and Emmanuelle Seigner
________________________
Juno
This year’s low-budget critical hit (with Oscar noms for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Screenplay) about a teenage unwed mother.

Opens 1 February

Directed by Jason Reitman
Starring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera and Jennifer Garner
________________________
There Will be Blood
Ambition, religion and raw American capitalism in this tale of the early days of the California oil boom. Eight Oscar noms including best film, best director and best actor.

Opens 15 February

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano and Ciaran Hinds
________________________
Ahlaam
One of the first post-Saddam films to be released in the West, this neo-realist drama tells the story of a patient in a psychiatric hospital which has been destroyed by the war.

Opens 21 March

Directed by Mohammed al Daradji
Starring: Aseel Adel and Bashir al Majid
________________________
It’s a Free World…
Director Ken Loach explores immigration and labour exploitation in modern-day Britain. Paul Laverty’s script won the Best Screenplay Award at last year’s Venice Film Festival.

Starring: Kierston Wareing, Juliet Ellis and Leslaw Zurek
________________________
The Kite Runner
The film version of Khaled Hosseini’s best selling novel about  friendship, betrayal and redemption involving two Afghan boys living through the turbulence of the past decades. Spaniard Alberto Iglesias composed the Oscar-nominated score.

Opens 7 March

Directed by Marc Forster
Starring: Zekiria Ebrahimi and Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada


MUSEUMS AND EXHIBITIONS

Alphonse Mucha
A restrospective of works by the Art Nouveau pioneer and graphic artist whose advertising posters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries inspired the psychedelic art movement six decades later.

Until 31 August

Schedule: Daily, 10am-8pm
Price: Free

CaixaForum
Paseo del Prado, 36
28014
91.330.73.00
_______________________
Un Pueblo, Una Nación
Another exhibit marking the bicentennial of the Madrid uprising against the French, this one is a virtual recreation of the events of May 2, 1808 until the following day. 

Until 28 September

Schedule: Daily, 10am-9pm
Price: EUR 6 

Centro de Arte Canal
Paseo de la Castellana, 214
28036
91.545.15.13
_______________________
 Jesús Rafael Soto
Nine pieces by the Venezuelan master of kinetic and op art whose work is in the collections of the Tate Modern, the Pompidou Centre and MOMA.

Until 17 May

Schedule: Monday through Friday, 10:30am-2pm and 4:30pm-8:30pm. Saturday, 11am-2pm
Price: Free

Galeria Elvira Gonzalez
General Castaños, 3
28004
91.319.59.00
________________________
El Oriente de Severo Sarduy
Cuban poet and painter Severo Sarduy was an inexhaustible traveller and this exhibition uses photographs, paintings, documents and objects Sarduy picked up in his wanderings around Asia and the Middle East to illustrate the region’s impact on his writing.  

Until 25 May

Schedule: Monday through Saturday, 11am-2pm and 5pm-9pm. Sunday, 11am-2pm
Price: Free

Instituto Cervantes
Alcala, 49
28014
91.436.76.00
________________________
Goya in Times of War

Specially organised to mark the 200th anniversary of the Spanish insurrection against the French that eventually led to the Peninsular War pitting Britain, Spain and Portugal against Napoleon, this exhibit features more than 200 works by the Aragonese artist on the themes of war and conflict.

Until 13 July 

Schedule: Tuesday through Sunday, 9am-8pm.
Price: EUR 6

Museo Nacional del Prado
Paseo del Prado
28014
91.330.28.00
________________________
Sunken Treasures of Egypt
Known as “the Indian Jones of France”, archaeologist and
adventurer Frank Goddio pulled these 500 pieces from ancient Egypt out of the sea off Alexandria. On display are items ranging from mammoth statues of the gods to items of everyday use such as jewellery and coins. 

Until 28 September

Schedule: Daily, 10am-10pm
Price: EUR 8-13

Matadero Madrid
Paseo de la Chopera, 10
28045
91.517.73.09
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Ouka Leele. Inédita
Bárbara Allende Gil de Biedma adopted the monikor Ouka Leele when she joined up as the unofficial photographer of Madrid’s La Movida movement of the 1980s. Two decades later, the Costume Museum presents a selection of more than 60 of her mostly riotously colourful and outright weird photos from the era.

Until 8 June

Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30am-7pm. Sunday, 10am-3pm
Price: Free

Museo del Traje
Avda. Juan de Herrera, 2
28040
91.549.71.50
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El Pan de Los Angeles
For the first time, selected works from Florence’s renowned Uffizi Gallery are on loan to a Spanish museum with 45 pieces with religious themes by the leading artists of the Renaissance from Boticelli to Luca Giordano.

Until 25 May

Schedule: Daily, 10am-8pm
Price: Free

CaixaForum
Paseo del Prado, 36
28014
91.330.73.00
________________________
Hilos de Esplendor. Tapices del Barroco
Thirty magnificent tapestries from the Golden Age of the weaver’s art between the 16th and 18th centuries and which once adorned the walls of palaces around Europe

Until 1 June

Schedule: Monday through Saturday, 9am-5pm. Sunday, 9am-1pm.
Price: Free

Palacio Real
Bailen, s/n
28013
91.547.53.50
________________________
The Reina Sofia’s New Permanent Collection
In a major move to mark its 20th anniversary, Madrid’s top modern art museum is overhauling its permanent collection over the next year, adding pieces by major artists such as Picasso, Magritte and Calder, redistributing paintings and sculptures in a more logical arrangement and boosting the number of works on permanent display from 560 to more than 800.

Schedule: Monday and Wednesday to Saturday, 10am-9pm. Sunday, 10am-2:30pm
Price: EUR 6

Reina Sofia National Art Centre
Santa Isabel, 52
91.774.10.00
________________________
Modigliani y Su Tiempo
There’s no mistaking this Italian artist’s style of elongated bodies and faces which made him a star in bohemian Paris where he hung out with Picasso and Matisse. In the biggest show dedicated to Modigliani in Spain, more than 130 of his works are on display in this double exhibition.

Until 18 May

Schedule: Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Tuesday through Sunday, 10am-7pm. Fundación Caja Madrid, Tuesday through Sunday, 10am-8pm.
Price: EUR 6

Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
Paseo del Prado, 8
91.369.01.51

Fundación Caja Madrid
Plaza de San Martín
91.379.23.49
________________________
Espana en Guerra 1808-1814. La Nación en Armas
The first of a series of special events to mark the 200th anniversary of the Spanish uprising and subsequent war against the occupying French. Uniforms, weapons, paintings and other items from the conflict (including Napoleon’s cocked hat) are on display at this exhibit.

Until 11 May

Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am-9pm. Sunday, 10am-7pm
Price: Free

Teatro Fernán Gómez (Centro Cultural de la Villa)
Plaza de Colon
28001
91.480.03.00
________________________
MAXImin
Eighty-two works of minimalist art from 100 artists of the 20th century including Adolf Holzel, Josef Albers, Willi Baumeister, Sol LeWitt, Jesús Rafael Soto and Sean Scully.

Until 25 May

Schedule: Monday through Saturday, 11am-8pm. Sunday, 10am-2pm
Price: Free

Fundación Juan March
Castelló, 77
28006
91.435.42.40
________________________
Miradas sobre la Guerra de la Independencia
Spanish, French and British museums and libraries contributed etchings, drawings and prints to this exhibition marking the 200th anniversary of the Spanish war of independence against the French. Goya’s Desastres, a portrayal of the suffering of civilians caught up in the conflict, are just one of the highlights.

Until 25 May

Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am-9pm. Sunday, 10am-2pm.
Price: Free

Museo de La Biblioteca Nacional
Paseo de Recoletos, 20
28001
91.580.78.00
________________________ 
Otto Dix. Retrato de Hugo Erfuth
Works by the 1920’s German painter Dix and his photographer friend Erfuth analysing the relation between the two art forms.

Until 18 May

Schedule: Tuesday through Sunday, 10am-7pm.
Price: EUR 6

Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
Paseo del Prado, 8
28014
91.369.01.51

CONCERTS

Seu Jorge
Bring your dancing shoes for a night of dynamic samba pop by the Brazilian-born singer and actor.  

9 May

Schedule: 9pm
Price: EUR 20  

La Riviera
Paseo Bajo de la Virgen del Puerto s/n
28005
91.365.24.15
_______________________
Gore Gore Girls
The all female garage band from that home of power rock, Detroit, with The Burlingtons in support.  

11 May

Schedule: 8:30pm
Price: EUR 18  

Moby Dick
Avda. De Brasil, 5
28020
91.555.76.71

 

CHILDREN’S EVENTS

Titirimundi
Once again, Segovia’s annual International Puppet Festival tours Madrid. This year 30 puppet and marionette troupes from 15 countries perform in the city and environs. For schedules and venues, see: www.guiadelocio.com/madrid/ninos/titirimundi/titirimundi.pdf

Until 30 May
____________________
Animated Films from Lithuania,
the Czech Republic and Iran
The Caixa Forum weekend children’s film programme continues with animated shorts without dialogue each Sunday through May. Up coming films for children over seven include shorts by Czech director Hermian Tyrlova on 26 April and a series of Iranian shorts on 10 and 24 May. Lithuanian films for children over three are screened on 3, 17 and 31 May.

Schedule: 6pm
Price: EUR 1

CaixaForum
Paseo del Prado, 36
28014
91.330.73.00
________________________
Parque de Atracciones de Madrid
The city’s historic amusement park has added several new rides for the season and there are plenty of attractions for all ages from the latest monster roller coasters for the brave of heart to an antique merry-go-round for the smaller set. Easily accessible by metro at the Batan stop on Line 4.  

Schedule: April: Friday, 12 noon-8pm, Saturday, 12 noon-10pm, Sunday, 12 noon-9pm. May: Tuesday through Sunday, 12 noon-9pm. June, July and August: Daily from 12 noon until late. 

Price: Adults, EUR 8.20-26. Children 3 to7, EUR 8.20-16. Under 3 free. 

Casa de Campo
91.463.2900
________________________
Madrid Snowzone
Spain’s biggest indoor snow sports complex has added a special area for the younger set for tubing, plus intensive courses in those wanting to learn snowboarding.

Schedule: Daily, 10am-midnight
Price: EUR 10 per hour

Madrid Snowzone
Centro Comercial Xanadu
Autovia A-V, exit 23.5
28939
Arroyomolinos
902 26 30 26
________________________
Pandamonium!
They’re here! After more than ten years of negotiations with the Chinese government, pandas Bing Xing (male) and Hua Zui Ba (female) have arrived at the Madrid Zoo for a lengthy stay during which it is hoped they’ll mate and multiply.

Schedule: Weekdays and weekends, 11am-6pm
Price: Adults, EUR 15.90. Children 3-7, EUR 12.90

Zoo Aquarium de Madrid
Casa de Campo
91.512.37.70
________________________
Safari Park
The present fine weather is perfect for a day trip here where lions, zebras, giraffes, etc. lounge among the scrub oak eying the visitors driving by in their cars. But take care around the monkeys who are known to nick windscreen wipers.

Schedule: Daily, 10:30am-7:30am
Price: Adults, EUR 12. Children, EUR 8

Safari Park
Ctra. de Extremadura, M-507, Km. 22. Access by the N-V, exit 32 at Navalcarnero, Aldea del Fresno
91.862.23.14
________________________
Rompiendo el Cascaron
Specially produced theatre, dance, puppet and film performances for the under-3 set.

Until 3 June

Schedule: Saturday and Sunday, 10:30am
Price: Children, EUR 6. Adults, EUR 9
Fernán Gómez (Centro Cultural de la Villa)
Plaza de Colon
28001
91.480.03.00
________________________ 
Parque Warner
Bugs, Daffy, Yogi Bear and all the gang are back for another season at Madrid’s biggest theme park with rides and attractions galore.

Schedule: Weekends and holidays, 11am-10pm in March. Friday-Sunday in April and May.
Price: Adults, EUR 17-35, Children 5-10, EUR 13-26.50
Children under 5, free
For further schedule and price information, see: www.parquewarner.com

Parque Warner
M-506, Exit 22 from N-IV (Carretera de Andalucia)
28330
San Martin de la Vega
902.024.100
________________________  
Rocinante. En el Lugar de la Magia
Don Quixote and his horse inspired this circus production featuring acrobats, tightrope walkers and more.

Until 1 June

Schedule: Wednesday through Friday, 6:30pm. Saturday, 4:30 and 7:30. Sunday, 12 noon and 5pm.
Price: EUR 4-40

Circo Price
Ronda de Atocha, 35
28012
902.488.488

 

 

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