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
.
Photo Gallery
“Português de Braga” [The Portuguese from Braga] is the closing video and also the promo of “ACTOR”. It parodies the cliché of the humble countryside woman who goes to the capital city and gets overwhelmed by everything. The performer dresses the typical costume of his hometown (Amares, Portugal) and dances to the popular Portuguese tune “Zé Brasileiro Português de Braga” around some of the most distinctive Lisbon monuments. The song is a tale about a man running away to Brazil and leaving his mother behind.
