Portuguese Play Nominated for Uruguay’s Florencio Award
The Portuguese theater production “A 20 de novembro” (November 20th) has earned a nomination for Uruguay’s prestigious 2026 Florencio Awards, the Teatro Gíria company announced on Wednesday. The play is a contender in the Best Foreign Production category, marking a significant milestone for the Lisbon-based troupe.
A Chilling Portrayal of a School Shooter
Written by the late Swedish playwright Lars Norén and directed by Rodrigo Aleixo, the production features a gripping solo performance by Francisco Monteiro Lopes. The play delves into the psyche of an 18-year-old youth, Sebastian Bosse, who is on the brink of carrying out a school massacre.
Norén based the text on the real-life 2006 attack in Emsdetten, Germany. To craft the “painfully honest and relentless monologue,” the playwright extensively researched Bosse’s personal diaries and online manifestos. The real-life tragedy resulted in eight injuries and ended with the shooter taking his own life.
Teatro Gíria describes the work as a raw exploration of the “verbal, physical, and psychological violence” Bosse endured. The play examines his deep-seated hatred for the school system, his belief that freedom is a mere illusion, and the profound sense of isolation that ultimately fueled his violent intent.
International Recognition
The nomination follows the play’s April run at the Teatro Mandrágora in Montevideo. This Uruguayan leg was part of an international tour supported by the Portuguese Ministry of Culture through the Directorate-General for the Arts (DGArtes) and the Management of Artists’ Rights (GDA).
The Florencio Awards, organized by the Association of Theatre Critics of Uruguay, are the country’s premier honors for theatrical excellence, recognizing both domestic and international talent. The winners will be revealed during a gala ceremony at Montevideo’s historic Solís Theatre on December 3.
A Global Journey Continues
Since its 2020 premiere in Cascais, “A 20 de novembro” has traveled extensively, with performances in Lisbon, Cape Verde, and major Brazilian cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
The company’s momentum shows no signs of slowing. According to co-director Patrícia Fonseca, the production is scheduled to tour Argentina in February 2027 before returning to Lisbon’s Teatro da Comuna in September. Plans are also underway for a European tour later that year, with stops expected in Copenhagen, Madrid, and Athens.
Image: Pexels – Genaro Servín
