Acaso Theater Festival 2024: Honoring Founder Pedro Oliveira
The 31st edition of the Acaso International Theater Festival returns to Leiria this Thursday, carrying a profound sense of legacy. Running until October 25, the festival will serve as a tribute to its late founder, Pedro Oliveira, a titan of the local arts scene who passed away in July.
Organized by the theater company O Nariz, the festival’s programming was largely curated by Oliveira himself. During his tenure, he wore nearly every hat imaginable—director, actor, playwright, and educator. Artistic direction has now passed to his co-founder, Vitória Condeço, who will oversee a diverse month-long lineup featuring music, cinema, performances, and workshops.
Honoring the Creator
The festival kicks off Thursday at the Miguel Franco Theater with the opening of “Os bonecos do Pedro” (Pedro’s Puppets). Created by Mafalda Brito and Rui Pedro Lourenço, the exhibition showcases Oliveira’s immense creativity in puppet and marionette design. Visitors can see iconic figures from productions like “The Little Prince” and the company’s 1990s debut, “O Lorpa,” which toured internationally across Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Cape Verde.
The stage lights up later that evening at 9:30 PM with O Nariz’s performance of “Agripina, a menor.” The historically grounded monologue promises corrosive humor and a critical look at the lives and legacies of the first five Roman emperors.
A Global Stage in Leiria
From October 2 to 5, the festival shifts into high gear with seven family-friendly shows scattered across the Miguel Franco Theater, Mercado de Santana, and Espaço O Nariz. Highlights include:
- “Loop” by Spain’s Eugenio Navarro
- “Bath-flop” by Austria’s Barbara Probst
- “O nabo gigante” by Partículas Elementares
- “U.F.A.” by Spanish performer Cris Clown, featuring a daring aerial show suspended from a tree in the Luís de Camões Garden.
A Vision Realized: The Premiere of Medeia
The festival will conclude with a particularly poignant project: the premiere of “Medeia.” This adaptation was one of the final works conceived by Pedro Oliveira before his death. While he began the directing process, Vitória Condeço has stepped in to bring his vision to the stage. The production features a script by Luís Mourão, performances by Spanish actors Carmen Bécares and Raúl Escudero, and soundscapes by Inês Condeço.
Additional highlights throughout October include music from the Judepina Trio and Hiena d’Áustria, theater by Teatro da Terra and Útero, and two intensive training weekends focused on neutral masks and commedia dell’arte led by Filipe Crawford.
Image: Pexels – HONG SON
