For more than fifteen years, Lío has occupied a singular position within the cultural landscapes of Ibiza and, more recently, Mykonos, dissolving the traditional boundaries between performance, fine dining and nightlife to create an experience that feels as theatrical as it does social. This season, its latest productions, Halftime Show in Ibiza and Spectacularrr in Mykonos, have continued that evolution, pushing the venue’s immersive approach to live entertainment further than ever before.
At the centre of that creative vision is artistic director Pol Chamorro. Having joined Lío on its opening night in 2011 as a performer before rising to lead its artistic direction, Chamorro has helped shape the venue into one of the Mediterranean’s defining destinations for live entertainment. Under his direction, choreography, scenography, music and gastronomy unfold as a single narrative, transforming the entire venue into a living stage before seamlessly giving way to the club experience that has become synonymous with Lío after dark.
As Halftime Show continues in Ibiza alongside Spectacularrr in Mykonos, we caught up with Chamorro to discuss creative inspiration, building stories beyond the traditional stage, and why he believes no one should ever leave Lío feeling indifferent…
You joined Lío on its opening night in 2011 as a performer and now lead its creative direction as Artistic Director. Fifteen years on, what does Lío represent to you today? Lío represents almost half of my life and, above all, the place where I’ve been able to bring together all of my artistic passions into one. Since I was very young, I’ve loved drawing, designing, imagining new acts, creating aesthetic concepts, choreographing, dancing and singing. I feel incredibly fortunate to have found a place where all of those passions have come together and become my profession.
‘Halftime Show’ draws on the energy and precision of major global halftime productions but translates them into Lío’s own theatrical language. What fascinated you about that world of spectacle, and how did you make it your own? I think halftime shows are widely recognised as some of the most ambitious, innovative and contemporary productions in live entertainment. Over the years, I realised that, without even thinking about it, I was always looking forward to hearing who would headline the next halftime show. Whenever I found myself watching performances I truly loved, many of them turned out to be halftime shows. That was the moment the idea clicked. I thought, “Why not create a show inspired by that world?” Rather than simply recreating it, I wanted to reinterpret it through Lío’s own creative language and identity. It’s also a concept that instantly resonates with audiences because almost everyone knows what a halftime show is, so there’s already an emotional connection before the performance even begins. From there, we immersed ourselves in research, exploring the artists and iconic performances that have shaped the history of halftime shows. We built a huge library of references, studied what made those moments so memorable, and used that inspiration as the foundation for creating a completely new production for Lío Ibiza, one that pays tribute to that world while remaining unmistakably Lío.
Lío has always blurred the boundaries between performance, dining and nightlife. How do you create an experience where each element feels equally important, rather than one simply supporting another? I’ve spent many years walking through the tables at Lío, observing our guests, understanding their energy and learning how every part of the experience works behind the scenes. Over time, that’s given me a very intuitive understanding of how to balance all the different elements that make Lío unique. While it may not be obvious to our guests, we’ve developed our own creative approach to allowing the gastronomy, the show, the music and the club experience to coexist without competing with one another. It’s all about rhythm, timing and knowing when each element should take centre stage, so every moment of the evening feels intentional and meaningful. I can’t reveal exactly how we do it. That’s part of the magic.
You’ve described ‘Halftime Show’ as an expanded intermission, designed to sustain narrative tension throughout the evening. How do you build a story in a space where guests are free to eat, drink and experience the performance in their own way? People come to Lío to have fun, and our job is to make sure that happens. At the same time, we’ve developed a rhythm that gently guides our guests through the evening while giving them the freedom to experience it in their own way, to eat, drink, socialise and immerse themselves in every moment. We carefully create space for each part of the night to unfold naturally, allowing guests to enjoy the experience at their own pace without ever losing their connection to the performance. It’s about striking the right balance between freedom and storytelling, so the show remains a constant emotional thread throughout the evening.
The venue itself becomes part of the production, with choreography, scenography and movement unfolding around the audience. How does creating a living stage change the way you approach performance compared to a traditional theatre? I believe this is one of the foundations of what has made Lío a pioneer in redefining live entertainment. I don’t approach the creative process as if I were staging a traditional theatre production. Instead, I see our shows as something closer to a live concert or a high-profile awards performance, where the action unfolds across multiple spaces rather than a single stage. That approach gives us enormous creative freedom. It allows us to play with different levels, areas and perspectives, transforming the entire venue into part of the performance. Having the whole room as our stage opens up far more storytelling possibilities than a conventional theatre ever could, making the experience feel more immersive, dynamic and alive.
Every element of Lío, from choreography and costume to lighting and music, contributes to the overall experience. When you’re developing a new production, where does the creative process begin, and how do all those disciplines come together? A new act can begin in many different ways. Sometimes it starts with a look from a fashion show, sometimes with a song on the radio, a photograph, a fleeting image, or simply a moment that sparks something. Inspiration has no single source. It can emerge from almost anything that resonates with you. Once that initial spark appears, the creative process begins. The challenge is to explore how the idea can evolve, how it can be translated into the world of Lío, and how it can become part of our creative language. Interestingly, as the process unfolds, the original idea often changes completely. You may end up leaving behind the concept that first inspired the act, yet there’s almost always an invisible thread connecting the final creation to that very first moment of inspiration. That initial spark never truly disappears. It simply transforms into something new.
Unlike a theatre production, ‘Halftime Show’ is performed night after night across an entire season. Does the production continue to evolve over those months, or is opening night the finished vision? Most of the production is created before opening night. It’s developed through an extensive creative process and refined during a long rehearsal period. By the time we premiere it, the vast majority of what audiences see is already in place, which is why most of the show remains unchanged throughout the season. That said, like any live performance, our ultimate goal is to connect with the audience. During the first few weeks after the premiere, we pay close attention to how people respond to each moment of the show and every individual act. Those reactions are incredibly valuable, allowing us to fine-tune small details whenever we feel there’s still room for improvement. Even subtle adjustments can strengthen the audience’s emotional connection and make the overall experience even more impactful.
Lío has become one of Ibiza’s defining destinations for entertainment while continuing to evolve creatively. How do you balance the expectations of returning guests with the desire to surprise them each season? After sixteen years, Lío has built an audience with very high expectations. Many of our guests return season after season, having experienced several different productions. That creates a unique challenge: every new show has to feel fresh, surprising and better than the last.That’s why we’re constantly looking for ideas we haven’t explored before, whether that’s new staging concepts, unexpected shifts in the rhythm of the evening, fresh artistic talent or technical innovations that elevate the overall experience. We continue refining every aspect of the production while introducing new dancers, singers, performers and creative elements. We know every returning guest arrives expecting to discover something they haven’t seen before. That expectation pushes us to keep reinventing ourselves, ensuring each new season offers an experience that not only feels different, but surpasses what came before.
With ‘Halftime Show’ in Ibiza and ‘Spectacularrr’ in Mykonos, how do you ensure each production reflects the character of its destination while remaining unmistakably Lío? Our goal is always to create shows that express the essence of Lío and the experience we want every guest to have. Rather than designing productions around a specific destination, we focus on creating performances that evoke emotion and immerse audiences in a distinctive world that reflects Lío’s identity. That said, every production is carefully adapted to its location. Ibiza and Mykonos are different venues, with different stages, technical possibilities and audiences, so each show is tailored to its environment. The same production would never be presented in exactly the same way in Ibiza as it would in Mykonos. Each version evolves to make the most of its setting while preserving the creative vision and the essence of the Lío experience.
When the lights come up and the music fades, what do you hope stays with people long after they’ve left Lío? For me, success is very simple. If someone comes to Lío, experiences one of our shows and fully immerses themselves in everything we create throughout the night, I hope they wake up the next day with a smile on their face as they think back on that experience. A night at Lío should allow people to leave their everyday worries behind, switch off from the outside world and simply enjoy themselves. It’s about creating a space where guests can feel free, celebrate and be completely present in the moment. Personally, my greatest hope is that no one leaves Lío feeling indifferent. I want every guest to walk away with unforgettable memories and emotions that stay with them long after the night is over.
