The LAMA Teatro is organizing the fifth edition of its festival this year, with a primary focus on the city of Faro. The festival will feature diverse performances across several notable venues and public spaces in the city, including theater, contemporary circus, music, and dance. These events are tailored for audiences aged three and up, explained João de Brito, actor, director, and artistic head of the theater company.
“We always include discussions and workshops, which we take to schools to generate debate outside the traditional theater settings,” stated João de Brito, emphasizing that the festival will offer “numerous activities over 10 days” designed for “all ages” and “the entire family.”
Discussing the program, João de Brito acknowledged the difficulty in highlighting some artists over others, yet noted that the festival aims to celebrate Portuguese music and ensures the inclusion of a prominent national music figure, this year being Luísa Sobral.
“Luísa Sobral is undoubtedly a highlight, she will perform at Jardim da Alameda in an open-air, family-friendly show with free admission,” he announced. The festival will also commence at the same venue on May 1, International Workers’ Day, with a picnic event for parents and children, featuring entertainment by rapper, musician, and actor Sir Scratch.
The LAMA Teatro director revealed that the festival will also host international shows, including a performance by the Brazilian company Varanda Teatro, in Largo do Carmo.
The schedule includes “O Roque Nunca vai Acabar” by Companhia Mascarenhas Martins and the show “Água” by Estúdio 13, a creation and interpretation by Maria João Gouveia, as the organizers indicated.
The project “Pic-Nic de Histórias” by LAMA Teatro invites four performers to share stories, featuring books instead of food. Meanwhile, Clown Enano, a Portugal-Spain collaborative company, will present the play “Um milhão + 1” and the contemporary circus act “Libertenano.” Additionally, Varanda Teatro will bring “Histórias Encaixotadas” to Largo do Carmo, the organizer added.
The already “classic” Baile Pais e Filhos promises to have “kids and adults dancing,” and a discussion on “Artistas da Cidade: de Faro para o Mundo” is planned, moderated by João de Brito and featuring participants Afonso Jerónimo, Filipa Rodriguez, Gabriel Antunes, Henrique Prudêncio, Jeannine Trevidic, Miguel Neto, and Tiago Cadete.
Other festival highlights include a music performance by Projecto EZ, the installation and sensory experience “La Gran Tempesta” by the Catalan company Efimer, and “L’Après-midi dún fohen” by the French company Non Nova — Phia Ménard, stated João de Brito.
João de Brito noted that “Phia Ménard comes from France and will perform at Teatro das Figuras,” while the Catalan company will create “an immersive experience in Largo do Carmo, inviting families to enter a giant storm bubble filled with confetti, wind, and music.”
In the previous edition, the festival attracted four to five thousand visitors, and Mochila aims to double its audience in the 2025 edition, which offers experiences for all audiences “from the age of three,” except for babies.
LAMA Teatro receives funding from the Direção-Geral das Artes for 2025/2026 and organizes the festival with support from the Faro municipality, water and waste management company Fagar, and the Ibercena program, which fosters the exchange, creation, and professionalization of Ibero-American performing arts, said João de Brito.
