The Theatre and the Plague
Text:Antonin Artaud
Translation: Aníbal Fernandes e John Romão
Concept: John Romão
Direction: John Romão e Salomé Lamas
With: Albano Jerónimo e Lídia Fernandes (Teatro Romano), Cucha Carvalheiro e Aida Tavares (São Luiz Teatro Municipal), Mónica Calle e Francisco Frazão (Teatro do Bairro Alto), Igor Regalla e Susana Menezes (LU.CA), John Romão e Patrícia Portela (Teatro Viriato)
Photography direction, grading: Miguel Nabinho
Assistant Photography: João Martinho
Sound direction: Miguel Martins
Editing: Francisco Moreira
Music: Gabriel Ferrandini
Graphics: Diogo Dias João
Photography and equipment studio: Screen
Sound and equipment studio: McFly
Press: Helena César
Photographic documentation: Bruno Simão
Production: BoCA
Executive production: John Romão e Salomé Lamas
Coproduction: EGEAC, Teatro Viriato
Parners: São Luiz Teatro Municipal, Teatro Romano, Teatro do Bairro Alto, LU.CA – Teatro Luís de Camões
Media partners: Antena 1, Antena 2
Geographic expansions
At the same time, and until August 23, “The Theater and the Plague” becomes a text and video score, expanded to other Portuguese and foreign cities, thus contaminating geographically, like a virus, space and people, when being recreated and streamed by actors from different cities in empty theaters. During this period, cities, theaters and actors will be announced.
On April 6, 1933, under an invitation of René Allendy, Antonin Artaud proposed to the Sorbonne audience a conference with the strange title The Theater and the Plague. Nobody expected the show that was going to take place there. The only existing documentation is presented in the Diary of Anaïs Nin: “Allendy and Artaud sitting behind a large secretary. Allendy introduced Artaud. The venue was packed. (…) no word could describe what Artaud acted out on the platform of the Sorbonne. He forgot about his conference, the theatre, his ideas, Dr. Allendy sitting there, the public, the young students, his wife, professors, and directors.
His face was contorted with anguish, one could see the perspiration dampening his hair. His eyes dilated, his muscles became cramped, his fingers struggled to retain their flexibility. He made one feel the parched and burning throat, the pains, the fever, the fire in the guts. He was in agony. He was screaming. He was delirious. He was enacting his own death, his own crucifixion.
At first people gasped. And then they began to laugh. Everyone was laughing! They hissed. Then, one by one, they began to leave, noisily, talking, protesting. They banged the door as they left. (…) But Artaud went on, until the last gasp. And stayed on the floor.”
In April 2020, during the mandatory confinement, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the theaters are empty. The conference The Theater and the Plague by Antonin Artaud is reenacted.
Online Broadcasts
- JULY 31 (Friday), 9pm (Albano Jerónimo and Lídia Fernandes / Teatro Romano): Facebook and Youtube EGEAC, Museu de Lisboa, BoCA Bienal
- 2 AUGUST (Sunday), 9pm (Cucha Carvalheiro and Aida Tavares / São Luiz Teatro Municipal): Facebook and Youtube EGEAC, São Luiz Teatro Municipal, BoCA Bienal
- AUGUST 7 (Friday), 9pm (Mónica Calle and Francisco Frazão / TBA): Facebook and Youtube EGEAC, Teatro do Bairro Alto, BoCA Bienal
- AUGUST 12 (Wednesday), 9pm (Igor Regalla and Susana Menezes, LU.CA): Facebook and Youtube EGEAC, LU.CA – Luís de Camões Theater, BoCA Bienal
- AUGUST 15 (Saturday), 9pm (John Romão and Patrícia Portela, Teatro Viriato): Facebook and Youtube EGEAC, Teatro Viriato, BoCA Bienal