The announcement of the winner preceded the premiere of the play “O Nariz de Cleópatra, pois claro!”, adapted and directed by Cristina Carvalhal, based on Augusto Abelaira’s theatrical text “O nariz de Cleópatra,” officially launching the TNDM season.
The prize, awarded by a jury consisting of 15 representatives from the Portuguese artistic and cultural scene, grants an amount of 5,000 euros to the actor, playwright, and director.
Born in 1995, Marco Mendonça began his professional journey in 2014 with the company Os Possessos.
The following year, he completed his degree at the Escola Superior de Teatro e Cinema and undertook a one-year internship at TNDM, working under the then artistic director Tiago Rodrigues.
He collaborated with actors and directors such as João Pedro Vaz, Paula Diogo, Faustin Linyekula, Catarina Requeijo, and the company Formiga Atómica led by Miguel Fragata and Inês Barahona.
Alongside João Pedro Leal and Eduardo Molina, he created “Parlamento Elefante,” the winning project of the Bolsa Amélia Rey Colaço of TNDM (2019), and “Cordyceps,” supported by Rede 5 Sentidos (2021).
“Blackface” (2023), presented at the Alkantara Festival, was the artist’s first solo creation, followed by “Reparations Baby!” premiered this past June.
In addition to theater, Marco Mendonça has participated in film and television projects. As an actor, he is part of the cast of “Catarina e a beleza de matar fascistas,” by Tiago Rodrigues, which has been touring internationally since 2020.
“It is with immense pride and joy that we present Marco Mendonça with the 6th Ageas Teatro Nacional D. Maria II Revelation Award, recognizing his remarkable theatrical work,” stated Rui Catarino, chairperson of TNDM’s board, during today’s ceremony.
“More than individual recognition,” the award is “a contribution to the vitality, growth, and rejuvenation of Portuguese theater,” emphasized Rui Catarino.
Marco Mendonça, he added, “is an inspiring example of a young actor, director, and playwright,” who has brought “central issues of contemporary democratic societies” to the stage.
“The strength of his creative identity and the quality of his journey as an interpreter foreshadow a career of immense breath and relevance,” concluded Rui Catarino, congratulating the winner on behalf of the entire theater team.
Gustavo Barreto, from Grupo Ageas, partner of TNDM in the award, highlighted that witnessing the recognition of young talents is “a privilege,” believing that the award “can have a real and positive impact on the artistic careers” of the recipients.
Instituted in 2020, in partnership with Grupo Ageas Portugal, the award is given annually to theater professionals up to 30 years old (completed by December 31 of the previous year), whose artistic work has stood out in the Portuguese theatrical scene.
“Recognizing and promoting emerging talents in the theatrical landscape, motivating the initiation and development of successful professional careers in this sector” are, according to the organization, the objectives of the award.
The criteria for awarding the prize include the quality of artistic performance in the year in question, the contribution of the artistic performance to the development and strengthening of the theatrical area, and the introduction of innovative or differentiating elements in theatrical practice.
Catarina Barros, Cristina Planas Leitão, David Cabecinha, Fátima Alçada, Gisela Casimiro, Guilherme Gomes, Isabél Zuaa, John Romão, Maria Inês Marques, Mário Coelho, Mónica Guerreiro, Patrícia Portela, Pedro Azevedo, Pedro Barreiro, and Pedro Mendes were the jury members for this 6th edition of the award.
Sara Barros Leitão, Mário Coelho, Cárin Geada, Pedro Azevedo, and Tita Maravilha have won in previous editions.
