Antigua i Barbuda’s Machine Theatre

A ballerina, a horse or a gorilla… These are just some of the creations by Antigua i Barbuda that have taken over the Cruïlla Festival in recent years. These structures, born from the imagination and inventiveness of Jordà Ferré, are built from objects once considered trash, ingeniously repurposed to bring the object—and the machine it becomes—to life. To celebrate our 15th anniversary, we brought back two of the most iconic and beloved pieces from Antigua i Barbuda:

EL CAVALL DE FERRO (THE IRON HORSE)

“The streets are full of people. Children’s shouts blend with adult voices and the thick traffic moving forward. The wind blows through the parks. We are surrounded by matter. The iron of buildings and the cement of cobblestones seem to breathe.”

In this setting, Antigua i Barbuda reinvents everything and brings it to life, presenting a dreamlike parade featuring the magical image of a chained, giant iron horse that sears itself into the viewer’s memory.

EL GRAN GORIL·LA (THE GREAT GORILLA)

Their giant puppet: King Kong (the universal gorilla) or, closer to home, Snowflake (the world’s only known albino gorilla)—these are the icons that spark the imagination. The contrast between the puppet’s humble materials and the sheer monumentality of the beast is resolved in this character: a colossal figure that is feared, admired, and deeply loved.

Castellers

After some time without human towers at the Parc del Fòrum, we brought back one of Cruïlla’s most beloved traditions: castellers groups returned to the festival! Throughout the four days, people experienced the excitement and collective strength of the castells (human towers), a living symbol of our culture and a perfect reflection of the Cruïlla spirit: community, balance, and shared emotion.

That 2025 also marked 15 years since castellers were recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, and we were excited to share this milestone with them, as we also celebrated 15 years of the festival. That is why that year we had castellers every day, as a tribute to a tradition that represented and inspired us.

We welcomed Els Esquerdats, the Casteller group from the Esquerra de l’Eixample, Els Descargolats and La Colla Jove de Barcelona who was also celebrating their 15th anniversary this year!