Jocular Theatre produces kick-ass dark comedies with heart, meant to tickle the most twisted of funny bones. Based in Barcelona, we’ve been staging English-language theatre since 2003, building a loyal following through imagination, precision, and unrelenting passion.
How It All Started
Jocular Theatre was founded by Joshua Zamrycki. When he first moved to Barcelona from New York, theatre was simply a way for him to meet people. After performing in a few productions, he realized something was missing from the local scene: the wicked, absurd comedies he loved most. So he stepped into the director’s chair—and never looked back. What began as a way to fill a niche soon became a movement, powered by a clear artistic vision and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
What We Love
We gravitate toward the strange, the edgy, the side-splitting. Think Christopher Durang’s off-kilter absurdities, Martin McDonagh’s stomach-churning grit, Michael Frayn’s door-slamming chaos, and the heartfelt intensity of William Finn’s modern musicals. We don’t shy away from controversy—if a show offends a few people, we consider it a job well done. Theatre should stir something inside you.
We choose shows we wish someone would bring to Barcelona—so we bring them ourselves. We don’t do musicals often (they’re beasts to produce), but when we do, we go all in. Our goal is always the same: to put on the kind of show we’d kill to see.
How We Work
Every production begins with a crystal-clear vision. Casting is instinctive. Rehearsals are rigorously structured. The attention to detail is borderline obsessive. Costumes, props, lighting, sound, staging—nothing is an afterthought. Our director draws from a wealth of experience across all theatrical roles and leads each team with care, precision, and just the right amount of spreadsheets.
We’re also deeply invested in the audience’s experience—guiding them emotionally from the first light cue to the final blackout.
Who We Are
Jocular Theatre has collaborated with hundreds of talented actors and crew members across more than 20 productions. We prioritize mutual respect, professionalism, and the kind of camaraderie that makes every cast feel like a family.
Thanks to consistent quality, our legend has grown organically. Audiences return. New talent seeks us out. Other English-language companies in Barcelona know we’re here to support the scene as a whole—because growing this artistic community benefits everyone.
Why It Matters
Independent theatre is hard. English-language theatre in a non-English-speaking country? Even harder. There’s no money in it. Just sweat, love, and a relentless drive to tell great stories. But that hasn’t stopped us from becoming Barcelona’s most prominent English-language theatre company.
We work hard. We have fun. We dream big. And we deliver the kind of theatre that leaves a mark.