At the end of 2021, the publication that brought together the 16 presentations delivered at the second edition of the Jornades d’Estudis Locals of Vilafranca was released. For this occasion, two young residents of the municipality, Maria Neus Adrover and Margalida Galmés, focused their article on the Fira de Teatre Infantil i Juvenil de les Illes Balears, promoted by Sa Xerxa de Teatre. The FIET, alive since 2002, has been a constant in the childhood and adolescence of the two authors, who embrace it as their own and delve into it to eventually shape a detailed and multifaceted study.
Their research is titled “The Origin and Evolution of the FIET: The Uniqueness of this Theater Fair”, emphasizing why the Vilafranca fair is distinctive and unprecedented in the region. To do so, they begin the communication with a state of the question –which helps justify the interest in the work– followed by an explanation of the origin of both Sa Xerxa and the FIET project.
Additionally, since understanding the Fair also requires indicating the constraints that hinder its annual development, the focus is placed on its financing and how the COVID-19 pandemic limited it. Finally, they look towards the future with a well-chosen quote from the president of Sa Xerxa, Jaume Gomila:
“We must preserve it, this opportunity has to be maintained. Firstly, for people to enjoy the theater, and secondly, for the local companies that have grown and had the opportunity to learn how work is done in the professional world of performing arts, and have been able to experience what it means to compete in the premier league”.
Despite being an academic piece, the authors do not shy away from the more emotional and sentimental aspects that the FIET represents for the town of Vilafranca and for all of Mallorca. They draft a series of reasons for the existence of a “FIET stamp”. Mas and Galmés talk about the essence of the Fair, addressing first the social atmosphere it creates, but also emphasizing the importance given to transmitting environmental and equality values and principles to children. Likewise, a section is dedicated to addressing the contribution of the residents of Vilafranca, who, through volunteering, ultimately make a project of these dimensions and scope possible.
After the presentation given by Maria Neus Adrover on December 11, 2021, at the Francesc Amengual hall of S’Escorxador in Vilafranca, the communication can be consulted in the book II Jornades d’Estudis Locals de Vilafranca (2001). Nevertheless, the authors have provided us with a copy so that you can delve into all you want in this research, which you can consult here.
