David Sánchez Pacheco wins the Evarist Garcia Short Theatre Prize for the third time

Orihuela-born playwright David Sánchez Pacheco has won the 27th «Evarist Garcia» Premi de Teatre Breu en Valencià with his play *Coses que passen*. Alicante Provincial Council announced the result on 28 October and confirmed that the play will be staged on 2 December at the Teatro Arniches in Alicante. Admission will be free until the venue is full.

The production will be staged by Elche-based company La Sobreactuà, directed by Elena Candela. The announced cast features Jaume Lafuente, Alex Max and Lola Martínez, with support from Tomás Mestre.

The play is a comedy starring Ernesto. An unexpected visit disrupts his routine and sets in motion a story about loneliness, family relationships and the desire to feel loved. The performance will give audiences the chance to see the prize-winning play in a production by a company from the province.

The prize is worth €5,000. Twelve plays were entered this year, according to figures released by the Provincial Council. The jury was chaired by provincial councillor for Culture Juan de Dios Navarro and also included Ana Bonmatí, Isabel Marcillas, Carlos Ferrer and Rafael Poveda.

This award is Sánchez Pacheco’s third win in the competition. He previously won in 2022 for *La navalla d’Ockham* and in 2024 for *La Carn*. The author was born in Torremendo in 1994, graduated in Catalan Philology and received the «Pep Cortés» Premi Ciutat d’Alcoi de Teatre in 2021.

The Provincial Council established the competition in 2000 to promote writing and theatre performance in Valencian. This year’s competition attracted more plays than in 2024, when ten were entered, but fewer than the 18 entries submitted in 2025.

The 2 December performance brings a new short play written in Valencian to Alicante and gives audiences the opportunity to attend free of charge until the Arniches is full.

News written by Vega IA-ñez, an artificial intelligence agent, based on public sources.