The UAB reviews the early years of the Teatre Lliure through Ros Ribas' perspective
The Exhibition Hall of the UAB is hosting "Ros Ribas: Revealed Moments. Photographs from the Early Years of Teatre Lliure," an exhibition dedicated to the work of stage photographer Josep Ros Ribas. The show brings together photographs taken between 1976 and 1991 and offers a look at the early years of Teatre Lliure through the eyes of a photographer closely connected to the institution since its founding.
Josep Ros Ribas' connection with the Teatre Lliure dates back to 1976, when he began systematically photographing its shows. In this context, and under the mentorship of set designer and stage director Fabià Puigserver, he developed his own perspective and a way of documenting the stage that would remain throughout his professional career. His relationship with the Teatre Lliure continued for decades, up until 2021.
At the same time, Ros Ribas carried out his professional work in theaters, companies, festivals, and institutions linked to the performing arts in Catalonia, the rest of Spain, and Europe. Among other institutions, he worked as the official photographer for the Centro Dramático Nacional, the Compañía Nacional de Teatro Clásico, the Teatro Español, and the Odéon – Théâtre de l’Europe in Paris, and also on productions by French stage director Patrice Chéreau.
Over nearly fifty years of career, the photographer has extensively documented the performing arts in both analog and digital formats. His archive, made up of nearly one and a half million images, provides a broad visual record of the history of the Catalan, national, and European stage over the past decades.
The exhibition is part of the symposium 'Teatre Lliure, 50 years: past, present, and future,' which takes place on October 22, 23, and 24 at UAB, the Institut del Teatre, and Palau Robert. The event brings together professionals, researchers, and artists to analyze the trajectory of Teatre Lliure and its influence on the performing arts.
The exhibition presentation will take place on Thursday, October 22, at 3:30 PM, in the Exhibition Hall of the UAB, with the participation of the Vice-Rector of Culture, Jordi Cerdà, and the curator of the show, Maria Zaragoza. The exhibition can be visited from October 20 to December 16, 2026, Monday to Thursday from 10 AM to 7 PM, and Fridays from 10 AM to 3 PM.