ACTOR

Theatre/dance performance written, directed and performed by Rogério Nuno Costa, in collaboration with Rui Ribeiro, Marina Nabais [movement dramaturgy], F. Ribeiro [set design], José Álvaro Correia [light design], Tânia Franco [costumes], Ana Calhau [graphic design], Miguel Pereira [consultancy], and Luísa Casella & José Luís Neves [photography]. Based on “The Actor Prepares”, by Constantin Stanislavski, the show was produced by the dance program BoxNova, at Lisbon’s Centro Cultural de Belém in June 2004. Other presentations: Casa de Teatro de Sintra/Chão de Oliva (2004); Casa dos Dias da Água/Lisbon (2004); Teatro Praga/Lisbon (2005); Welcome Goodbye Festival, Blue Elephant Theatre/London (2006).

I was born in June 1978. I wanted to be a singer in 1983, a pediatrist in 1985, a war reporter in 1990. In September 1999, though, I registered myself in Restelo’s tax office n.º 7, in Lisbon, under the label “theatre artist”. Since then, every time someone asks me “What do you do?”, I answer “I’m an actor”. 5 years later, the existential crisis — an actor is someone who acts. Therefore a dancer, who also acts, is always an actor. If this show had a subheading, it would be: “Contemporary Movement — Advanced Level”. Contemporary because it is fabricated today. Advanced because it is somehow unusual to look at an actor dancing without having proper academic training. I’d rather be a dancer who acts without having a Drama degree. Since I’m not, I’m a sad actor. And this show is also a sad show.

Rogério Nuno Costa, ©2004