Articles written by the PÚBLICO Brasil team are written in the variant of the Portuguese language used in Brazil.
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For four weeks, anyone who wants to learn a little about Brazilian theater will have the opportunity at Chapitô in Lisbon. There will be four theater performances in the space of culture and circus art, always from Friday to Sunday, at a price of 12 euros.
The idea to organize the festival came from Bruno Mariozza, one of its curators. “At the end of last year I was in Chapitô for a performance Mother Saintmonologue with actress Vilma Melo. We organized two presentations that were successful. There was an idea to do a program consisting of four performances in this space, which was accepted,” says Mariozz.
The common feature of the presented works is that they are original works that do not use any known text. “We have two programs created by me and two programs from other creators,” says Mariozz.
The festival will start with a performance Will bemonologue with Mariana Vasconcelos from Minas Gerais in the main role. “She's a Brazilian living in Portugal. He brings some of that mix, that experience coming from Brazil and built in Portugal, combining other narratives. The essence is Brazilian, but mixed with Portuguese art,” explains Mariozz.
In the second week, from October 18 to 20, it will take place Our placestarring actress Sara Bentes and actor Kiko do Valle. “It's a play written and performed by a blind actress and singer. He performs in a hanging arch performance, which is a very difficult situation. Moreover, there is a connection with the Chapitô language, with its circus aspect and concern for accessibility,” he reports.
The third performance, which will premiere on October 25–27, is titled: Black roses. Created by Bahian director Onisajé – the festival's second curator – it features actress Fabíola Nansurê, who deals with the difficulties, struggles, victories and challenges of the everyday lives of black women in Brazil.
There will be a last performance Bahian's motherfrom November 1 to 3. “It is based on the story of Helena Teodoro, the first black doctor of philosophy in Brazil. It tells the story of a grandmother's reaction to the loss of her granddaughter. Helena Teodoro lost her granddaughter when she was four years old, she says.
Brazilian theater in Portugal
When she left Belo Horizonte and came to Portugal, Mariana Vasconcelos (39), actress in the play Will bewhich will premiere next Friday, was not initially intended to create theater. “I came to gain experience and learn. I studied at Fórum Dança and Centro de Estudos do Movimento, which is not only about dance, but something broader,” he recalls.
He completed his master's degree in theater in Lisbon and founded the international theater group InsanaCena. “We are four Brazilians, three Portuguese, one Hungarian and one Syrian,” he says.
Disclosure
Social issues are always present in the plays they present. “We try to cover topics that make sense, such as racism, xenophobia, misogyny. The works do not discuss these topics, but they permeate our work,” he adds.
On Saturday and Sunday at Chapitô she will be accompanied by two Portuguese members of the group who, in addition to being actresses, are also musicians, Mariana Correia and Leonor Cabrita. “On the first day, the presentation will be accompanied by recorded music. In the other two, they will play the soundtrack during my performance,” says Mariana.
He talks about the difference between having a recorded song and performing with people who play. “There is no comparison between live music and recorded music. There is a connection between representation and music. If I'm slower or faster, they'll follow me,” he explains.
About the piece Will besays: “It's about hope in the midst of chaos. He looks for a way to find possible deviations in dealing with existence and what we experience around us,” he states.
