Living Chess celebrates 30 years with new edition based on Shakespeare

The Escacs Vivents de Xàbia – the Living Chess of Xàbia – presented a commemorative documentary for the 30th anniversary of this unique event that combines culture, participation, and tradition. Titled “30 anys dels Escacs Vivents de Xàbia. Passat, Present i Futur”, the piece premiered on Monday evening in a moving session at the Cine Jayan, offering a journey through the three decades of history of one of the municipality’s most iconic cultural events. Through archival footage, interviews, and unforgettable moments, the documentary offers an intimate look at the evolution of the project, from its humble beginnings to its consolidation as a highlight of Xàbia’s fiesta calendar.

The short and engaging documentary not only chronicles the event’s growth but also focuses on the people who have made it possible: the initiators, members of the Comisión de Fiestas Mare de Déu de Loreto, guests of honour, volunteers who have selflessly collaborated, children who have brought the pieces to life on the board, and, of course, the audience, who year after year fill Avenida Lepanto with their enthusiasm. It is a heartfelt tribute, a way of thanking all those people who, for thirty years, have contributed their effort, enthusiasm, and commitment to keeping this unique event alive, where art and citizen participation merge into an experience that combines theater, music, dance, sport, and beauty. A unique spectacle.

The event also unveiled the upcoming edition of Living Chess, which will celebrate its twenty-seventh edition on Saturday 26th July 2025 at 10.30pm in a special arena that will be created on Avenida Lepanto.

As explained by the event’s director, Raquel Violero, and the president of the Comisión de Fiestas Mare de Déu de Loreto, Álvaro Monfort, this year’s show is based on William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” in a free and contemporary adaptation that emphasizes a strong aesthetic charge without sacrificing the depth of its message. The stage proposal explores the fine line between reality and dream, the transformative power of art, and the struggle for opportunities. A choice that, while justified by its visual beauty, also offers a social interpretation that connects with the present.

The version of the Shakespearean text has been adapted both for its original difficulty and to emphasize its meta-theatricality, a notable novelty of this edition. This year, there is no single narrator, but rather various characters take on that role, in a bid to make the show not only a piece of cultural outreach, but also a reflection on theatre itself.

Another of this edition’s major innovations is that the text was created from the improvisations of the participating children themselves, which provides freshness, authenticity, and a direct involvement of the little ones in the creative process.

During the presentation, both the councillor responsible for Culture, Mavi Pérez (CpJ), and mayor Rosa Cardona congratulated the Comisión de Fiestas Mare de Déu de Loreto and everyone involved in the 30-year history of the Living Chess of Xàbia. Pérez emphasized that “talking about the Living Chess is talking about one of the most genuine and beloved cultural expressions of Xàbia, an initiative that has managed to unite culture, youth, tradition, and innovation with a very personal character.” For her part, Cardona emphasized that “the Living Chess are an example of how a people can transform an idea into something great, lasting, and with its own identity. This documentary reflects not only the past, but also the enormous collective heart behind the board.”

The mayor also wanted to highlight the unique nature of this event: “It’s a spectacle that, for everything it brings together, can only be found in Xàbia. It’s magical. It has the ability to stir something inside you, and you always come out different than you came in.” Both agreed to give special thanks to “all the people who have participated over these three decades, from children, families, organizers, technical staff, and the public, to those who have believed and worked passionately to ensure this project continues to grow each year.” This 30th anniversary is not only a cause for celebration, but also a recognition of an event that is already part of the cultural soul of Xàbia.