Death of a non-comformist

Pepe Rubianes...

He defined himself at the beginning of his shows as a Galaico-Catalan actor, joking that he was born in Galicia -where he never lived long- and lived all his life in Catalonia -where he was never born-. He was a nonconformist actor, director and humorist always ready to criticize the powerful and the conservative. He always spoke up very strongly against Spanish right wing nationalism, what got him in trouble with several Spanish theaters canceling his shows, and fascist Spanish nationalist groups demonstrating at his premieres with their Francoist flags and their Nazi-like salutes. He lived the last years of his life receiving death threats and insults from this groups. He was also very vocal against the policies of the state of Israel against the Palestinians.

He was famous for his unique (and hylarious) way of always speaking half in Spanish half in Catalan, continuously mixing both languages in every phrase, and also for his outrageous, politically motivated cursing in public, something that also drove snobbish right wing people crazy and got them to say that he was a "ghetto" (or our equivalent word in Catalan and Spanish), tastless and talentless character.

He was a talented, passionate critical thinker, a deeply politically committed artist, a free spirit that made of speaking up against the ultra-conservative establishments his mission in life. He made us think while he made us laugh.

He died yesterday, while the right wing Spanish nationalist party of Manuel Fraga -old school Facist who was in charge of executions of political dissidents during Franco's dictatorship- won the elections in Pepe's Galicia of birth for the 8th time in a row. Pepe and his efforts to keep us all alert against fascist tendencies in democratic disguises will be greatly missed.

Read more in English here


Pepe's famous phrases (not for sensitive ears):

"With so may imbeciles with rights of opinion-maker out there, the wise remain silent "
"I will continue to shit on that fascist, deandruff-covered and ultra-reactionary Spain"
(said as a response to the death threats cried out by ultra right wing Spanish nationalist groups at the premier of Rubianes' critical play "Todos Eran Lorca")


Rest in Peace, Pepe. May your spirit live in our struggles forever.