Important note: Since the publication of this article, the location of the ANTI-KARAOKE has changed. Click for updated information on that show.

The Llantiol's Return

Celebrating 25 years, the Llantiol Theatre has a Solid Autumn Lineup

There is a time portal one block west of Rambla Raval. On a small side street, Carrer Riereta, under a marquee of retro lightbulbs, is the Llantiol Theatre. Lluis Fortuny founded the Llantiol in the late Seventies, and it has since been preserved in the same condition: charming yet peculiar, bohemian yet classy.

Fortuny sought to bridge the gap between amateur and professional by providing an opportunity for new and unknown artists to perform at a reputable venue. Over the last 25 years, the Llantiol has done just that. Many gifted artists, including world-renowned Tricicle, we able to use the theatre as a springboard into local and sometimes even international fame.

Because of its tucked-away location, it has not been well known in recent years. When people ask manager Yuri Mykhaylychenko, "Does that place still exist?" he likes to answer, "No, it no longer exists. But it's always open."

However, the Llantiol has recently been making a comeback with a variety of exciting artists. The Autumn schedule includes regular performances by the phenomenal Jordi Mata Jazz Quintet, space folk cabaret group Yuri y su Orquesta de Cosmonautas, and the Ciclo de Cine Mudo, an evening of old Charlie Chaplin movies shown through an antique projector with live piano accompaniment.

The newest star to grace the Llantiol's stage is American comic entertainer Rachel Arieff, who has been in Barcelona just over a year. A self-proclaimed "extreme cabaret" star, trainwreck comedian and expert on suicide postponement, Arieff has been part of the scenes in New York City, Los Angeles and other hot spots around the States. Her comedy show, "How to Be Happy All the Time," takes place at the Llantiol on the last Thursday of every month at 11 pm. Arieff packs a hilarious punch with her mix of edgy pop culture satire and bawdily choreographed musical numbers. Whether she is singing, dancing, coaxing the crowd in English or Spanish, or simply acting like a lunatic, Arieff unremittingly engages the audience with her vibrant stage presence.

Aside from her own show, Arieff has also spawned two brainchildren that have been pivotal to the Llantiol's recent resurgence: Open Mic Night and ANTI-KARAOKE. At Open Mic Night, six minutes of stage time belongs to the participant, who gets to do whatever he or she wants, in whichever language they prefer.

"A lot of cool and freaky people always come, which is what I had hoped for, but did not expect," said Arieff. The event takes place on the first Tuesday of every month at 11 pm at the Llantiol. Sign-ups are available anytime beforehand, the sooner the better.

On any given Open Mic Night, performances never fail to adhere to the "anything goes" policy. Acts include stand-up comedy, transvestite dance numbers, singer-songwriter serenades, and lip-synching to various genres of music. While performances can be either breathtaking or humiliating, they are all a spectacle to behold. "I want people to come out of their shells, to let go and try new things," said Arieff, who not only hosts the event, but also performs intermittently throughout the evening, when she is liable to burst onto the stage dressed as a gospel preacher, saving the souls of the poeple in the audience, or perhaps bedazzle the crowd with her spot-on Courtney Love impression.

Equally as outlandish and entertaining as Open Mic Night, ANTI-KARAOKE takes place on the third Friday of every month at midnight. Arieff created ANTI-KARAOKE out of retaliation for typically boring karaoke nights that use cheap plastic microphones running through boom boxes. Instead, participants sing through the Llantiol's PA system using professional vocal microphones. Ridiculous costumes are encouraged but not mandatory. With beers available for 2 euros, everyone is usually coerced into taking the stage at some point in the evening, at least once.