Despite the uncertainties and constraints inherent to the current pandemic context, Imaginarius – International Street Theatre Festival has continued its important commitment to supporting contemporary artistic creation. In this 20th edition, scheduled for the public space of Santa Maria da Feira from 9 to 12 September, this will result in 9 Imaginarius Creations from different artistic disciplines which integrate various sections of the festival.
The contemporary circus show Variações, by Instituto Nacional de Artes de Circo, is part of the list of shows in the Main Programme of Imaginarius, and can be seen at the Tent next to the Mill House on 9 September, at 9pm, on the 10th, at 10pm, and on the 11th, at 11am, 4pm and 10pm. Variações is based on the investigation into the myth of the end and of the peak, be it the end of a career or even a life journey. The entire dramaturgy is based on memories of the lives of seven characters: a priest who lost his faith; a schizophrenic who was cured; a loveless couple; an artist without applause; a passionate doorman without doors and a soul without a body. All characters have in common the fact that they have reached the peak and also the end.
Será Sereia? is the proposal of the artist-educator duo who form Baileia for Imaginarius’ children’s audience. In the Gardens of the Municipal Library, on 11 and 12 September, at 11am and 3pm, children and their families are invited to follow Baileia, wandering between different islands to discover the mysteries that live in their waters. Are they sea monsters? Giant fish? A mermaid?
Two Imaginarius Creations are part of the programme of Orfeo & Majnun, a transnational, intercultural, interdisciplinary and inclusive project, inspired by the Greek myth of Orfeo and Eurydice and the Arab love story between Layla and Majnun. Youssef, a film by Telmo Ferreira and Paulo Moreira, which proposes a contemporary approach to one of the legends of the Castle of Santa Maria da Feira about the love between Lia and Youssef. This project will be screened in the auditorium of the Municipal Library, on the 9th at 10pm, followed by a conversation with the protagonists, and on the 9th, 10th and 11th at 10pm. Dendryx is a performance by Jeanneth Vieira that will involve the community in a show full of audio-visuals, sound and theatre, from 9 to 11 September, at 9:30pm, at Quinta do Castelo.
The performances Universo Reverso, by Mercador de Fábulas, at Quinta do Castelo, from 9 to 11 September, at 10 pm, and Nova Refutação do Tempo, which can be seen from 9 to 12 September in the Cloister of the Loios Convent, are also among the Imaginarius Creations that are having their world premiere during this second stage of Imaginarius, as a result of the Calls to Support Local Creation launched by the City Council as part of the festival’s programme.
The following Imaginarius Creations also had their world premiere in this 20th edition, but were unveiled to the public at the very first moment of Imaginarius, in May, and are once again included in the programme: Despojos da Torre de Babel, an interactive installation you can visit in the gardens of Quinta do Castelo; Very Very Funny, a short film designed and made exclusively for digital format by Rui Paixão, André Costa and Mariana Machado, which will be screened again on 11 September 11 at 7 pm, in the auditorium of the Municipal Library, followed by a conversation with the artistic team; Urban Pantheon, a short film by Teatro em Caixa that can be seen on 12 September at 7 pm, followed by a conversation with the artists, in the auditorium of the Municipal Library.
All shows are free of charge, limited capacity and mandatory registration by filling out the appropriate form. The shows that are part of Imaginarius – International Street Theatre Festival comply with the health and safety recommendations of the health authorities.
