On November 8, the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport awarded the Teatro Paraíso company the 2012 National Prize for the Performing Arts for Children and Youth, worth 30,000 euros.
The jury has awarded the prize by majority to this Vitorian company "for the creativity and variety of stage languages shown over thirty years" and for considering its latest work, Fly if you can", an exponent of a dramaturgy that is "committed and rigorous to children's audiences."
The jury also highlighted his international reach, combined with work "rooted in his immediate surroundings," and especially highlighted his work in creating new audiences.
The Teatro Paraíso company was founded in 1986 and has been developing a comprehensive children's theater project that encompasses performance creation, artistic education, and audience development.
Some of her productions are: "Kikiricaja" by Paul Maar (Germany, 1987); "With All My Heart" by Joan Praest Linde (Denmark, 1990); "Red Shoes" by Tiziana Lucatini (Italy, 1993); "In the Garden" by Charlotte Fallon (Belgium, 2005); "The Magic Flute Player" by Claudio Casadio (Italy, 2009); and "Fly If You Can" by Mathias Simons (Belgium, 2010).
The company has collaborated with venues in various European countries, such as Bjoneteatred in Denmark, Théâtre de la Guimbarde in Belgium, La Baracca, Testtoni Ragazzi, and Accademia Perduta-Romagna Teatri in Italy.
It is part of the European project Small Size Big Citizens, sponsored by the European Union, which integrates the efforts of 12 countries in the creation, training, and dissemination of Performing Arts for Young Children. It also implements the "Babies Project" of the Vitoria-Gasteiz International Theatre Festival.
