Based on transcripts from a Zoom dinner that took place mid-pandemic, in Brazil in June 2021, this verbatim play introduces four dynamic real-life Brazilian citizens: Cleifson, Leandro, Mateus, and Carmen. Getting to know each other over a meal, they engage in a dialogue both funny and tense on the issues that most divide them : race, liberalism and economic disparity.
Produced by Brasil Cena Aberta, the play will first be launched in a live digital format filmed by acclaimed director Heloisa Passo (Construindo Pontes, Viva Volta)
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CARMEN /// Activist – Frontal – Emancipated
Carmen is a woman of action. After having fled from her home region of Salvador de Bahia to avoid being “another femicide statistics”, she has been working to facilitate access to housing in downtown Sao Paolo. Mother of a large family, she is fighting for her children to have access to university. Her youngest daughter died of Covid.
CLEIFSON /// Outgoing – Provocative – Persistent
Cleifson is an intellectual and university professor with a lawyer background. He was one of the only Afro-descendants in his graduating class in Law. In the poor neighborhood in Bahia where he comes from, his success is almost unheard of and he wants systemic racism to be recognized. But he also wants to make sure that recognition translates into significant changes…
MATEUS /// Libertarian – Self-assured – Gun-rights advocate
Mateus is back in his hometown in southern Brazil after some years in Sao Paolo. He has worked for the army, but also as a civil servant and as a politician. To him, the State should not interfere in people’s personal life in any way, not even to protect them. He is pro-gun.
LEANDRO /// Centre-right – Theorist – Poster-Child of Liberalism
Born in Rio de Janeiro to a wealthy family, Leandro is a university professor in political science and a researcher in international relations. An anarchist in his youth, he was arrested several times for his extreme left-wing activism. Today, he clearly leans to the right.
THANKS TO OUR FOUR ARTFUL CITIZENS
Porte Parole wishes to personally thank the real-life Leandro, Mateus, Carmen, and Cleifson. This play was made possible by their generosity and their boldness, their willingness to take risks and to express their intimate convictions about delicate topics.
Whether or not you share their opinions, we are convinced that they will inspire a desire to engage in this ongoing discussion.
Special thanks also to Beatriz and Juliana, actors from Sao Paolo and moderators in this production.
