‘A reflexion about the burning matter that we are made of.’ — Diário de Notícias

Synopsis

Portugal Is Not A Small Country is a performance that discusses European dictatorships and the European presence in Africa, by looking at the Portuguese case, the country with the longest fascist dictatorship in Europe - 48 years, and the longest colonial Empire - nearly 500 years. It is done through the real live testimonies of ex-Portuguese settlers that were part of the refugee exodus from Africa in 1974-76. With this work we want to investigate real stories that have become memories and that over time have been inherited. We are interested in situations where real people contribute to challenge and rebuild cultural identities; how theatre can contribute to the rewriting of history, giving voice to a silenced group, working for memory transmission between generations.

Devised and Performed - André Amálio
Co-directed and Choreographed - Tereza Havlíčková
Music Composition and Performance - Pedro Salvador
Set Design - Pedro Silva

Technical Direction - Carlos Arroja
Production - Hotel Europa
Supported by - Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, EGEAC, Largo Residências, Liberdade Provisória and Teatro do Silêncio
Photos and Video - Maria Joana Figueiredo

Special thanks to all interviewers