Anarchy unleashed with Jauja Mediterranea by Els Comediants (1999)
Inspired by the radical street art “happenings" of the late 1960s, Spain’s Els Comediants were on a mission to “restore the festive spirit of human existence”. With Jauja Mediterranea, they did exactly that, unleashing a marine-themed spectacle that made the crowd feel like they had been abducted by pirates.
Each night, an estimated 30,000 people per night paraded from the Opera House forecourt to the Rocks. There was music and fireworks. Gigantic maquettes churned up the crowd. Wearing old clothes was advised (lots of sparks); wild abandon was guaranteed.
Said Festival Director Anthony Steel: “It was the most extraordinary, wild – and I would have thought from an insurance point of view, practically impossible nowadays – production.”
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