FITEI 2018 kicks off 12 June with performing arts as a drive towards empowerment
Article
Filipa Brito
Today begins the 41st edition of FITEI - International Iberian Theatre Festival. A ten-day event, themed "Empoderamentos" [Empowerment], whose fundamental goal is to celebrate theatre and performing arts in a number of stages throughout the Atlantic Front, including Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia and Matosinhos, and also Felgueiras and Viana do Castelo.
The FITEI runs from 12th to 22nd June, and the official kick off of the festival happens on 12th June, at Rivoli, with the opening and the launching of the book "Livro dos Exílios Reais e Imaginários" ["Book of Real and Imagined Exiles", free translation], a commemorative publication of the first 40 years of the FITEI.
The theme of the festival is aimed at "empowering those who usually don't have access to power: women, ethnic minorities, the poor, the Southern Europe inhabitant, someone who lives in the Southern part of the world, an indigenous person, and so many other who make us ponder and refocus this idea of centre and suburban, as well as the very idea of hierarchical verticality", as stated by the organisation.
"Longe" ["far", free translation] by Raquel S, jointly produced by Noitardecer - Cultural Association and Porto Municipal Theatre, is the first show and the first performance of FITEI 2018, on stage at the Teatro Campo Alegre.
"Trying to accurately describe a face, the face of someone who doesn't exist anymore", this is the thinking exercise, linked to obsession and memory starred by Margarida Gonçalves.
Also on Tuesday, 12th June, the performance "Caranguejo Overdrive", by the Brazilian Theatre company Aquela Cia. premieres at Rivoli.
Other shows and performances include "Mendoza" de Los Colochos, from Mexixo; "A House in Asia" from Catalans Agrupación Señor Serrano; "Correo" by Chilean Paula Aros Gho; "Altíssimo" by Pernambucan artista Pedro Vilela; and the residency "Yo Escribo. Vos Dibujás", from Argentinian artist Federico León.
See here all the FITEI 2018 Programming.