Antiprincesses / 2023
The Antiprincesses project began in 2017/18 with a series of four shows from the book collection “Antiprincesses”, edited by Tinta-da-China and by EGEAC, about women who marked the history: the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, the Chilean composer and singer Violeta Parra, the Bolivarian military of indigenous origins, Juana Azurduy, and the Brazilian writer Clarice Lispector.
The willing to continue honoring exemplary women and providing to the youngest female models with alternatives led to a new cycle of shows about Portuguese women: Leonor, Marquesa de Alorna, who became a renowned poet, challenged political and religious power in search of justice; Carolina Beatriz Ângelo, physician, feminist, the first woman to vote in Portugal and a defender of democracy and freedom; Antónia Rodrigues, sailor and knight from the 16th century; and Catarina Eufémia, a Portuguese agricultural worker murdered following a strike by rural workers.
They were ordinary women, heroines in real life who defied the canons and revolutionized the world through art, literature or politics. They were fighters, independent and passionate. The evoking of these true heroines underlines the evidence that life is not a “fairy tale”, but also that it’s worth facing difficulties and fighting for what we believe in.
All the shows are directed to spectators from 3 to 10 years-old and last approximately 35 minutes.
Antónia Rodrigues ×
Antónia Rodrigues ×
We are in the 16th century, of mermaids and sea monsters, of armor and sharp swords, of castles with high towers from which princesses peek… And also the century of the young Antónia Rodrigues, who left her small village at the foot of the Vouga River in search of of an adventurous life. Antónia. António. Antónia? António? António, who faced storms in a caravel, visited distant lands, fought in fierce battles, receiving decorations and passionate looks for his acts of bravery. This is the extraordinary story of Antónia Rodrigues. António? Antónia? Antónia Rodrigues, a girl ahead of her time: sailor, war heroine and a Portuguese Knight, for sure.
ARTISTIC TEAM
Direction - Cláudia Gaiolas
Dramaturgy - Alex Cassal
Performance - Alfredo Martins
Set design - Saulo Santos
Costumes - Ainhoa Vidal
Embroidery - Isabelle Yvonne Dekien
Music - Teresa Gentil
Light design - Daniel Worm
Executive Producer - Armando Valente
COMMISSIONED BY
São Luiz Municipal Theatre and EGEAC – Event Planning and Production
IN CO-PRODUCTION WITH
teatro meia volta e depois à esquerda quando eu disser, Oporto’s Municipal Theatre, Viriato Theatre
PREMIERE
March 2023, José Gomes Ferreira Park, Lisbon
Leonor, Marquise of Alorna ×
Leonor, Marquise of Alorna ×
The Marquise of Alorna had the childhood marked by the public execution of her grandparents, the Marquesses of Távora, accused of a supposed coup against the king D. José I, and the consequent enclosing of the whole family. Then with 8 years, she was sent to the de São Félix convent in Chelas, where she remained up to her 26 years. There, Leonor kept a secret correspondence with her father, who tried to educate her from distance. She became a consecrated writer and a woman who never let herself be dominated, defying the political power and the Church in search for justice and freedom.
ARTISTIC TEAM
Direction – Cláudia Gaiolas
Performance – Leonor Cabral
Dramaturgy – Alex Cassal
Set design – Carla Martínez
Costumes – Ainhoa Vidal
Executive production – Armando Valente
COMMISSIONED BY
São Luiz Municipal Theatre and EGEAC – Public Space Programming
IN CO-PRODUCTION WITH
teatro meia volta e depois à esquerda quando eu disser, Oporto’s Municipal Theatre
PREMIERE
December 2020, São Luiz Municipal Theatre, Lisbon
Carolina Beatriz Ângelo ×
Carolina Beatriz Ângelo ×
In the Antiprincesses performances’ cycle, Cláudia Gaiolas premieres two plays dedicated to Portuguese women who left a mark on history, Carolina Beatriz Ângelo and Leonor, Marquise of Alorna. Carolina Beatriz Ângelo, Portuguese doctor and feminist, was the first woman to vote in the country, in 1911. The law stated that only citizens older than 21 who knew how to read and write and were head of household could vote. The fact that she was a widower having to provide for her daughter allowed her to invoke in court the right to be considered “head of household”.
Juana Azurduy ×
Juana Azurduy ×
Juana Azurduy, woman-mother-warrior of indigenous origin who fought for a better country and for the independence of Bolivia. On horse, rifle and pistol drawn, this valiant and kind woman faced all the battles challenging life itself.
ARTISTIC TEAM
Direction – Cláudia Gaiolas
Performance – Leonor Cabral
Dramaturgy– Alex Cassal
Set design and costumes – ngela Rocha
Executive production – Armando Valente
COMMISSIONED BY
São Luiz Municipal Theatre and EGEAC – Public Space Programming,
From the Antiprincesses’ collection, edition in partnership of Tinta-da-China and of EGEAC.
Integrated in the programming Lisboa na Rua
IN CO-PRODUCTION WITH
teatro meia volta e depois à esquerda quando eu disser
SUPPORT
Government of Portugal – Ministry of Culture/Direcção-Geral das Artes
PREMIERE
September 2018, Parque José Gomes Ferreira, Lisbon
CIRCULATION
September 2019, Parque José Gomes Ferreira, Lisbon
September 2019, Materiais Diversos Festival, Mata de Minde and Moitas Venda
October 2019, Parque da Pasteleira, Cultura em Expansão, Oporto
October 2019, Parque Urbano, Espaço do Tempo, Montemor-o-Novo
Clarice Lispector ×
Clarice Lispector ×
Clarice Lispector was born in Ukraine, in a village which doesn’t show on the map, so small and insignificant it is. Her parents escaped from the war and ended in Brazil, where Clarice grew and became a great writer. She wrote on the mysteries of the universe and the human soul, but also on fugitive chicken, thinking rabbits and a puppy who ate cigarettes.
ARTISTIC TEAM
Direction and Performance – Cláudia Gaiolas
Direction Assistance – Leonor Cabral
Dramaturgy – Alex Cassal
Set design and costumes – ngela Rocha
Light Design – Daniel Worm d’Assumpção
Executive production – Armando Valente
COMMISSIONED BY
São Luiz Municipal Theatre and EGEAC – Public Space Programming,
from the Antiprincesses’ collection, edition in partnership of Tinta-da-China and of EGEAC.
Integrated in the programming Lisboa na Rua
IN CO-PRODUCTION WITH
teatro meia volta e depois à esquerda quando eu disser
SUPPORT
Government of Portugal – Ministry of Culture/Direcção-Geral das Artes
PREMIERE
June 2018, Parque José Gomes Ferreira, Lisbon
CIRCULATION
September 2018, Parque José Gomes Ferreira, Lisbon
October 2018, Centro de Experimentação Artística do Vale da Amoreira, Moita
February and March 2019, Viriato Theatre, Viseu
April 2019, Commemorations of the 45 years of the 25th of April, Gardens of the official residency of the prime-minister, Lisbon
May 2019, Barreiro’s Municipal Theatre, Barreiro
September 2019, Jardim do Torel, Lisbon
October 2019, Auditório do Grupo Musical de Miragaia, Cultura em Expansão, Oporto
October 2019, Parque da Cidade de Loulé and Parque da Cidade de Lagos, Verão Azul Festival
January and February 2020, Casa da Cultura de Ílhavo
August 2020, Bairro em Festa, Lisbon
Frida Kahlo ×
Frida Kahlo ×
Very far from here, on the other side of the ocean, there is a country called Mexico. Me-xi-co. In this place, a long time ago, a long time, lived a girl called Frida. Frida. Seems wound (ferida)? But it isn’t. It’s Frrrrrida. Frida Kahlo, the greatest painter of the world.
ARTISTIC TEAM
Direction – Cláudia Gaiolas
Performance – Leonor Cabral
Dramaturgy – Alex Cassal
Set design and costumes – ngela Rocha
Light Design – Daniel Worm d’Assumpção
Sound design – Teresa Gentil
Executive production – Armando Valente
COMMISSIONED BY
São Luiz Municipal Theatre and EGEAC – Public Space Programming,
from the Antiprincesses’ collection, edition in partnership of Tinta-da-China and of EGEAC.
IN CO-PRODUCTION WITH
teatro meia volta e depois à esquerda quando eu disser
SUPPORT
Government of Portugal – Ministry of Culture/Direcção-Geral das Artes
CIRCULATION
February 2018, São Luiz Municipal Theatre, Lisbon
CIRCULATION
August 2018, F Festival, Faro
September 2018, Parque Tejo, Lisbon
March 2019, José Manuel Figueiredo Cultural Forum, Baixa da Banheira
April 2019, Commemorations of the 45 years of the 25th of April, Gardens of the official residence of the prime-minister, Lisbon
May 2019, Barreiro’s Municipal Theatre, Barreiro
May 2019, Espaço do Tempo, Montemor-o-Novo
June 2019, integrated in Citemor, Performing Arts' Centre of Figueira da Foz
July 2019, Bairro em Festa Festival, Lisbon
October 2019, Centro de Experimentação Artística do Vale da Amoreira, Moita
October 2019, Casa d’Artes do Bonfim, Cultura em Expansão, Oporto
January 2020, Cine-Teatro da Misericórdia da Chamusca, Chamusca
October 2020, Quartel da Arte Contemporânea de Abrantes – Figueiredo Ribeiro Collection, Manobras Festival – Artemrede
October 2020, Y Festival, Performative Arts’ Festival, Covilhã
October 2020, Teatro-Cine de Pombal, Manobras Festival – Artemrede
October 2020, Cine-Teatro Municipal João Mota, Sesimbra
Violeta Parra ×
Violeta Parra ×
Soon she learned how to play guitar, which was not a thing for girls… She cared for her younger brothers and after of her sons, but that didn’t thwart her from affirming herself as a culture referent of her beloved Chile and from developing an international artistic career. With Violeta, for example, the audience learns a song about a violin playing chicken, become juries in a contest to choose Chile’s best singer and take care of babies which turn out to be… potatoes.
ARTISTIC TEAM
Direction – Cláudia Gaiolas
Performance – Sandra Pereira
Dramaturgy – Alex Cassal
Musical creation support – Teresa Gentil
Scenic space and costumes – Cláudia Gaiolas
Props’ construction – Ana Ribeiro
Costumes’ confection – Mestra Teresa Louro
Executive production– Armando Valente
COMMISSIONED BY
São Luiz Municipal Theatre and EGEAC – Public Space Programming,
from the Anti-princesses’ collection, edition in partnership of Tinta-da-China and of EGEAC.
IN CO-PRODUCTION WITH
teatro meia volta e depois à esquerda quando eu disser
PREMIERE
September 2017, Jardim da Cerca, Lisbon
CIRCULATION
February 2018, Sala Bernardo Sassetti, São Luiz Municipal Theatre, Lisbon
October 2019, Campanhã Parish Council– Cultura em Expansão, Oporto
September 2020, Barreiro’s Municipal Library, Manobras Festival – Artemrede
October 2020, Quartel da Arte Contemporânea de Abrantes – Figueiredo Ribeiro Collection, Manobras Festival – Artemrede
October 2020, Teatro-Cine de Pombal, Manobras Festival – Artemrede