Sala Beckett presents How I learned to drivePaula Vogel's powerful Pulitzer Prize-winning play, directed by Marilia Samper. An intimate, courageous, and essential work about memory, abuse, and survival, performed by Mireia Aixalà and Ivan Benet. Theatre that moves you and stays with you.
The Beckett Hall premiered the January 28 the work How I learned to drive, an essential text by the American playwright Paula Vogel, Winner Pulitzer Prize for this piece in 1998. The direction is by Marilia Samper, a regular creator at the Beckett, and the cast is headed by Mireia Aixalà, ivan benet, Alba Gallen y Kathy Sey.
The play arrives in Barcelona as one of the most powerful offerings of the season, combining memory, trauma, humor, and a critical look at affective and sexual education in family settings; and will be showing until March 1th 2026
🚗 A story about memory, abuse, and survival
The protagonist, known as Coseta, guides the public through an emotional journey through the memories that marked his adolescence: the car seat where he learned to drive, the family dining room, the high school hallways… spaces where his emotional education was built —and deformed— under the influence of a misogynistic and sexualized environment.
The work reconstructs the complex relationship between Coseta and her uncle Peckwho taught her to drive while weaving a web of abuse disguised as affection. With a fragmented structure, humor, and songs, Vogel offers a piece as devastating as it is luminous.
🎬 Artistic Team
👩💼 Address: Marilia Samper
A director and playwright born in Brazil and based in Catalonia, Samper is a regular at the Sala Beckett. Critics highlight her ability to address complex social issues with sensitivity and forcefulness.
At Beckett he has already presented works such as “The One Who Is Not Called” (2021), a short and harrowing piece about gender violence that confirmed her affinity with themes related to power, trauma and vulnerability.
His career includes directing and writing in theaters such as the TNC, La Villarroel or the Teatre Lliure, always with his own stamp: emotional realism, social perspective and precise staging.
🎭 Main Cast
⭐ Mireia Aixalà — Protagonist (Coseta)
Catalan actress with a solid career in theater, television and film. How I learned to drive She plays a woman who, after years of silence, decides to reveal a secret that marked her life. Aixalà has worked on highly significant productions at the TNC, the Lliure, and the Beckett, and is recognized for her ability to navigate between fragility and emotional strength. She stars in this play alongside Ivan Benet, according to the cultural coverage of the premiere.
⭐ ivan benet — Peck
A Catalan actor with a long and distinguished career, Benet is especially known for his work in contemporary and classical theater. He has starred in productions at the TNC, the Lliure, and the Grec, and is one of the most respected actors of his generation. In this play, he portrays Peck, a key figure in Coseta's life and the central figure in the emotional and moral conflict of the story.
⭐ Alba Gallen
An emerging actress with a growing presence on the Catalan stage, she has participated in new drama productions and contemporary creative projects. In this play, she is part of the cast that accompanies the protagonist in reconstructing her memory.
⭐ Kathy Sey
An actress and creator with a background in physical theatre, performance art, and contemporary theatre, her presence brings interpretive diversity and a distinctive stage energy. She is a member of the production's permanent cast.
The Beckett Hall premieres How I learned to drivePaula Vogel's harrowing Pulitzer Prize-winning play, directed by Marilia Samper. An intimate and courageous work about memory, abuse, and survival, featuring powerful performances by Mireia Aixalà and Ivan Benet.
🏛️ Production and technical team
- Author: Paula Vogel
- Traducción: Helena Tornero
- Scenography: Sebastià Brosa and Paula Bosch
- Lighting: Ganecha Gil
- Costume: Albert Pascual
- Sound: Guillem Rodríguez
- Assistant Director: Lily of the Valley
- Production Beckett Room
📅 Dates, location and tickets
- 📍 Beckett Room – Baix Room
- 📅 From January 28 to March 1, 2026
- 🎟 Tickets: From €22 on official platforms and at the box office (programming confirmed in ticketing calendars).
How I learned to drive It is one of the most exciting offerings of the theater season in Barcelona.
An internationally acclaimed script, a director with a sharp social eye, and a top-notch cast. A play that invites reflection on memory, abuse, emotional education, and the capacity for survival.
