The world premiere of the musical based on Ken Follett's best-selling book, The Pillars of the Earth brings a unique experience with 360º projections and surround sound to Madrid. The creators of The Physician have used state-of-the-art technology to create a revolutionary theatre concept that invites the audiences to become immersed in the Middle Ages of the 12th century. The musical can be seen at Teatro Gran Vía from 20 November 2025 to 1 February 2026.
The fictional town of Kingsbridge has become the setting for three books, a mini-series, a game, a video game, a radio series and now an innovative musical. The development of gothic architecture against a historical backdrop and a gripping story has been the formula that has made Ken Follett one of the world's most popular authors and led him to win numerous awards.
According to surveys by the Publishers' Guild Federation, The Pillars of the Earth is the most read novel in Spain since its publication in 1989. Having sold six million copies to date in Spain, worldwide sales exceed 26 million.
Iván Macías has been commissioned to turn the novel into music. This is not the first time that the composer has tackled a similar task; the musical of Noah Gordon's international bestseller , The Physician, is one of his most acclaimed works. For this project, he is once again accompanied by the playwright Félix Amador, who wrote the libretto.
The musical has an immersive staging that is capable of taking the audience on an epic journey through 12th century England, via 360º projections and surround sound . It also uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools to turn Teatro Gran Vía into a huge stage and place the audience at the centre of the action. This production is made up of more than 70 people, including the cast, artistic team, special effects specialists and fencing professionals, who will choreograph the fight scenes.
Approximate Duration: 2 hours and 55 minutes (15-minute break included)
Recommended age: 12 years and up
Global Glasses Experience
beon. Entertainment revolutionises the musical experience with the new Global Glasses. Through augmented reality , these glasses enable spectators to enjoy the shows thanks to the real time translation of the texts . This initiative improves accessibility for international audiences and offers a unique experience.
This device will be launched in November with the English and Chinese translation of The Pillars of the Earth , the musical. By the end of the year, Italian, German and French will also be available.
The glasses will be available for hire at the Teatro Gran Vía and they feature polarised lenses and a battery life of up to 6 hours, ensuring that users can enjoy even the longest musicals without interruption.
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