{{Short description|Spanish theater company focused on sketches}} {{Distinguish|Tricycle|Tricycle Theatre}} {{multiple issues|{{more citations needed|date=May 2016}} {{peacock|date=May 2016}}}}{{Infobox comedian | image = Tricicle2.jpg | caption = Tricicle in 2013. Sans (left), Mir (center) and Gràcia (right) | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} | genre = Sketch comedy | years_active = 1979–present | website = https://www.tricicle.com/ }} '''Tricicle''' ({{IPA|ca|tɾiˈsi.klə|lang}}) is a Spanish physical comedy group consisting of Joan Gràcia, Francesc <nowiki>''Paco''</nowiki> Mir, and Carles Sans. Founded in 1979, the group initially performed short sketches in public spaces and alternative venues.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.tricicle.com/history/ |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=Compañía Teatral Tricicle |language=en-GB}}</ref> The members were students at Barcelona's Institut del Teatre, where they studied pantomime and dramatic arts.
In 1982, Tricicle made their professional circuit debut at the Sala Villarroel in Barcelona. The show consisted of a compilation of sketches, as developed during their performances in "cafés-teatro" (bars and cafés offering live performances). The production, titled ''Manicomic'' won a prize at the Sitges International Theatre Festival the same year.<ref name="mime">{{cite web|url=http://www.spainisculture.com/en/companias_artisticas/barcelona/tricicle.html |title=Tricicle. Theatre at Spain is culture |publisher=Spainisculture.com |date= |accessdate=2016-05-27}}</ref> == History == In 1982, Tricicle premiered their first production, ''Manicomic'', at the Sala Villarroel. ''Manicomic'' was a collection of gags, created over a three-year period. That same year, they received a prize at the Sitges International Theater Festival.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.tricicle.com/history/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=Compañía Teatral Tricicle |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.tricicle.com/history/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=Compañía Teatral Tricicle |language=en-GB}}</ref>
=== Recognition in Spain === In 1983, the group met television director Narciso Ibáñez Serrador, who invited them to perform a sketch on the TV show ''Un, dos, tres... responda otra vez''. They presented a parody of Julio Iglesias's song "''Soy un truhán, soy un señor.''"
Following this exposure, Tricicle premiered their show ''Exit'' in 1984. The production toured across Spain and led to invitations to perform in several other countries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cortes |first=Eugenia |date=2020-01-02 |title=EXIT |url=https://www.tricicle.com/tricicle-theater/exit-en/ |access-date=2026-05-12 |website=Compañía Teatral Tricicle |language=en-GB}}</ref>
=== ''Later productions'' === In 1986, Tricicle premiered their third production, ''Slastic'', a series of comic sketches centered on sports. In November 2004, the group selected this work to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
Later, Tricicle joined two other groups in Spain, Dagoll Dagom and Append, to found the production company "3xtr3s" (three by three). In addition to producing shows for three companies and other groups, the company leased the historic Teatre Victòria in Barcelona for 20 years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Victória |title=HISTORIA {{!}} Victória |url=https://www.teatrevictoria.com/es/historia-teatro.html |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=www.teatrevictoria.com |language=es}}</ref> The first production staged by "3xtr3s" at the theatre was ''Botiga dels horrors'' (The Little Shop of Horrors) by Howard Ashman.
=== Maturity (1990s–2000s) === In 1992, the trio premiered its fourth production, ''Terrrific''. That same year, they produced a second TV series, ''Festivals'', and began preparing their first short film. On August 9, 1992, they performed at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium during the closing ceremony of the Barcelona Olympic Games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EL TRICICLE, 40 AÑOS Y PUNTO FINAL {{!}} Matadero Madrid |url=https://www.mataderomadrid.org/programacion/el-tricicle-40-anos-y-punto-final |access-date=2025-08-21 |website=www.mataderomadrid.org |language=es}}</ref> This marked the first comic performance included in an Olympic ceremony.
''Terrrific'' was followed in 1996 by ''Entretres'', which toured multiple cities over 3+ years.
In 1999, they premiered ''Tricicle 20'', an anthology of sketches from previous productions commemorating the group's twentieth anniversary.
In 2002, the group premiered ''Sit'', a collection of comic situations involving a chair. The show ran for three months at a theater in Paris during the winter of 2004.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tricicle: treinta años de risas |url=https://rua.ua.es/server/api/core/bitstreams/e8cf8f3c-9842-46d8-9a08-7094ccfaabe4/content |website=rua.us.es |access-date=17 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260226181839/https://rua.ua.es/server/api/core/bitstreams/e8cf8f3c-9842-46d8-9a08-7094ccfaabe4/content |archive-date=26 February 2026}}</ref>
On November 3, 2004, Tricicle celebrated its 25th anniversary with an event at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona. The event, co-produced with the newspaper ''Sport'' (also celebrating its 25th anniversary), was called ''"25 + 25"'' and featured a special recreation of ''Slastic''. Several prominent athletes, including Ángel Nieto, Miguel Indurain, Alex Corretja, Sergi Bruguera, Ronaldinho, and Hristo Stoichkov, participated by performing in individual gags. Comedians including Millán Salcedo, Santiago Segura, and Pepe Rubianes also took part.<ref>{{Cite web |last=3CatInfo |date=2004-09-26 |title=El Tricicle i el diari "Sport" celebraran els 25 anys amb una obra en què actuaran esportistes |url=https://www.3cat.cat/3catinfo/el-tricicle-i-el-diari-sport-celebraran-els-25-anys-amb-una-obra-en-que-actuaran-esportistes/noticia/75619/ |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=3CatInfo |language=ca}}</ref>
By 2005, ''Tricicle'' had toured internationally in countries including China, Tunisia, Portugal, Austria and Argentina. In 2018, the group retired from live stage performances.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-10 |title=Veteran comedy trio bid farewell to the stage |url=https://www.catalannews.com/culture/item/veteran-comedy-trio-bid-farewell-to-the-stage |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=www.catalannews.com |language=en}}</ref>
In 2023, Tricicle received the Max Award of Honour for their contributions to the performing arts in Spain.<ref>{{Cite web |title= ¿Qué son los Premios Max?|url=https://www.premiosmax.com/seccion/que-son-los-premios-max/}}</ref> In 2025, the group partnered with CaixaBank in a campaign to raise awareness of fraud.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=May 7, 2025 |title=CaixaBank and Tricicle join forces to raise awareness of fraud in society |url=https://www.caixabank.com/en/headlines/news/caixabank-and-tricicle-join-forces-to-raise-awareness-of-fraud-in-society |access-date=August 8, 2025 |website=CaixaBank.com}}</ref>
== Theatre == * 1982: '''''Manicomic''''' * 1984: '''''Exit''''' * 1986: '''''Slastic''''' * 1992: '''''Terrrific''''' * 1996: '''''Entretres''''' * 1999: '''''Tricicle 20''''' * 2002: '''''Sit''''' * 2007: '''''Garrick''''' * 2012: '''''Bits''''' * 2017: '''''Hits'''''
== Film == * Features: ** 1995: Palace * Shorts: ** 1993: Quien mal anda, mal acaba ** 1995: David ** 1996: Mendigos sin fronteras ** 1997: Polvo eres ** 2002: Sit (documentary)
== Television == * 1987: Tres Estrelles * 1992: Fiestas populares * 1994: Xoooof! * 1999: Pecera de BTV * 2000–2003: Dinamita * 2005: Teletipos * 2005: Trilita * 2010: Més Dinamita
== Special events == * 1992: Juegos Paralímpicos (Paralympic Games) * 1992: Closing Ceremony of the Barcelona '92 Olympics * 1992: Seville Expo '92 * 1993: Special Olympics * 2004: 25 + 25
==Awards== * Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts, 2009<ref name=mime/> * Max Award of Honour, 2023<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.premiosmax.com/noticias/1991/tricicle-premio-max-de-honor-2023/|title=Tricicle, Premio Max de Honor 2023|website=Premios Max|language=es}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Cite web|url=http://euro-ent.ru/en/shows/tricicle/|title=Tricicle {{!}} Euro Entertainment|website=euro-ent.ru|access-date=2016-06-01}} * {{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-09-18-ca-5685-story.html|title=Los Angeles Festival : Barcelona's El Tricicle: Three Mimes On A Roll|last=DRAKE|first=SYLVIE|date=1987-09-18|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|access-date=2016-06-01}} * {{Cite web|url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/arts_n_ideas/article/legendary-spanish-mime-trio-hits-city/391077.html|title=Legendary Spanish Mime Trio Hits City {{!}} Arts and Ideas|website=The Moscow Times|date=8 December 2009 |access-date=2016-06-01}}
{{Max Award of Honor}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Spanish mimes Category:Theatre companies in Catalonia Category:Spanish comedy troupes Category:Comedy trios