Biography of Gemma Julià

I trained as an actress at the Institut del Teatre de Barcelona and, as a psychologist and pedagogue, at the Universitat Autònoma de Bellaterra.

Right after I graduated, over thirty years ago, I lived in New York. I was engaged in collective and multidisciplinary creation processes, experimenting with new languages and learning improvisation and composition techniques. Tools and experiences that would be crucial in my career.

I continued training with professional directors and playwrights such as Tim Baker and Sanchis Sinisterra, with experts in social theater and forum theater such as Allan Owens and Jouni Piekari, with clowns such as Virginia Imaz and experts in creativity such as Margarita Iñíguez. I have a postgraduate degree in psychodrama and group therapy from the University of Barcelona and I have trained in Craniosacral Biodynamic Therapy.

From the beginning I combined my work as an actress with teaching and directing theater workshops in very diverse contexts. I have worked in private and public theater schools, in the world of formal education and leisure settings, in adult education, in contexts of social exclusion and as a cooperator with various NGOs.

The direction and dramaturgy of shows started spontaneously in my teaching work, associated to the desire to tell stories and the need to portray and transform realities.

The direction and dramaturgy of shows appeared spontaneously linked to leading groups, to the desire to tell stories, to want to portray and transform realities.

From 2005 until its breakup in 2021, I was member of Projecte Vaca (Women Stage Creators Association), a community of women with a vocation for audacity, creativity and research. I was its president from 2008 to 2012.

In 2008 I created my own company, Cia. Gemma Julià , La Prodigiosa, to give way to my projects as an actress, director and playwright. Until 2025 the company has premiered and toured a total of six shows.