Skate hero, the musical that pays tribute to Ignacio Echeverría, the 'skateboard hero' who died in the attack in London in 2017

“We are a tribe that always goes straight ahead / the wheel of the skate is always hot / We live differently / And although people see us as if we were criminals / We live very calmly / There is nothing that takes away from our style”.

Ignacio Echeverría, the “skateboard hero”, who lost his life in the London Bridge attack in 2017, would get on the board without hesitation and close ranks with his diverse tribe, the same one that will sing “Libertad” on the 5th of June at the Joaquín Rodrigo de Las Rozas Auditorium (Madrid)

The musical is titled “Skate hero”, and it has been written and composed by a group of young people including Juan Ayuso, 19, who will play Echeverría on stage. The work recreates the 24 hours that preceded his last and memorable gesture, signed with an interior monologue that has a lot to do with prayer: “Give your life for love.”

Moving the strings of the musical since its inception we have Javier Segura, president of the Ven y Verás Educación association, as producer and screenwriter, with Professor Miguel Ángel Gómez González-Vallés reinforcing the musical part. The spark arose precisely in 2017, when the group of young people from the Santa Maria Movement participated in an ecumenical meeting in Wales, seasoned with a musical that they themselves performed on that occasion in English: “Sons of liberty”.

“Every three years we carry out the same experience and we always represent a new musical”, recalls Javier Segura. “The last time the attack had just occurred that cost Ignacio the life of. That is why it was almost immediate for us to think about telling his story in our next meeting.. Ignacio's life is a true bridge between Spain and the United Kingdom. And it represents very well some values that we wanted to live and transmit”.

The pandemic has forced the next meeting in Wales to be postponed until 2022, and “Skate Hero” will arrive there adapted to English. At the moment it will be performed in Spanish and will possibly go on tour in Spain. The premiere on June 5 (two days after the fourth anniversary of his death) will be a stone's throw from the Ignacio Echeverría Skatepark in Las Rozas, where he received the nickname “Abo” or “El Abogado”, which also gives the documentary its title in your Honor.

Ignacio's parents, Joaquín and Ana, will deliver a skateboard that belonged to their son in the emotional function. The book written by Joaquín (“This was my son Ignacio: the skateboard hero”) has served as inspiration for the script and for the songs, with themes such as “Sliding down the street of good” and “Vive”, composed by the Juan Ayuso himself, who combines his studies in Business Administration with his dedication to music.

Joaquín and Ana are played by the way by two brothers, Miguel Angel and Mari Carmen Toraño, who wanted to meet them before getting into their skin.

Enrique, Ignacio's brother, also shared the process of creating the songs for months with that “tribe that always wants more and more”. “Ignacio’s gesture crossed borders and consciences,” says producer Javier Segura. “Tributes and recognitions followed. Skate parks all over Spain bear his name. He received the highest decorations here and in Great Britain. Ignacio represents the best of our land. Courage, generosity, extreme altruism. And the best of humanity: to be able to give his life for a stranger.”

“On the fourth anniversary of his death, this musical undoubtedly has a special meaning,” Segura stresses. “It will also be a moment to accompany the family and to show everyone that Ignacio’s death was not in vain. That his example lives on.”

Tickets for “Skate Hero” will be available starting June 1. Online: www.lasrozas.es/entradas Phone sale; 902733797 Streaming rebroadcast: https://youtu.be/-RgjJF8h_jw