Teatro O Bando celebrates 50 years with an exhibition, conference and premiere

'A gustinópolis', a play entirely with words and characters by the author of 'A Sibila', staged by João Brites with music by Jorge Salgueiro, premiering on Friday at the CCB's Grand Auditorium, will have new performances on Saturday and Sunday, and is the highlight of the celebrations of the theater collective based in Palmela, which was also born on October 15, like the author of 'Vale Abraão'.

Literary critic, essayist and playwright Maria João Reynaud, Mónica Baldaque, writer, painter, museologist, daughter of Agustina Bessa-Luís, and directors João Brites and Miguel Jesus, from O Bando, are the speakers at the conference 'About Agustina's work', to be held on Saturday, in the Foyer of the CCB's Grand Auditorium.

The conference, "which is also a celebration of the author's birth, brings together the various moments of realization of a theatrical project that begins with the demand for 96 characters, hand-picked by Maria João Reynaud and João Luiz (director)," reads the CCB's program.

Since Wednesday, the 'liberaLinda' project, created by O Bando as part of the group's 50th anniversary and April 25th celebrations, has been on display in the Foyer of the CCB's Grand Auditorium.

The project includes 'Travessia', an exhibition of 24 costumes that marked his theatrical career, and the screening of the documentary 'oKupação', directed by Rui Simões, about the theatrical occupation of TSF by O Bando, on April 24, 2014, a dramatization integrated into the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the April Revolution and of the theater group based in Palmela since 1999.

With costumes from plays such as 'Ti Miséria' and 'Morte' (1982), 'Cão das Lágrimas' (2004), 'Inês' (2011), 'Nina' (1994), 'Xerazade' (2023), 'Travessia' has guided tours on Saturday, from 3:00 pm to 4:15 pm, and on Sunday, from 2:00 pm to 3:15 pm.

The documentary 'oKupação' can still be seen today at 8pm, on Friday at 3pm and 10:30pm, on Saturday at 3pm and 9:30pm, and on Sunday at 2pm and 8:15pm.

On Wednesday, at the end of the day, the third volume of the book 'Actress and Actor. Artists', by João Brites, published by Bicho do Mato and the Teatro Nacional D. Maria II, in the 'Studies' collection, was launched.

The ceremony was attended by professor and theater critic Eugénia Vasques, professor João Maria André, João Brites, Susana Melo, representing the publishers, and the president of the CCB board of directors, Nuno Vassallo e Silva.

The Bando was founded by six people, including João Brites, who is still the company's artistic director today, on October 15, 1974.

Read Also: O Bando premieres 'Agustinópolis' play by Agustina Bessa-Luís