The theater production at Teatro Narciso Ferreira in Riba de Ave features two characters, portrayed by Portuguese actor David David and Slovenian actress Tjasa Dobravec, the latter known for winning her country’s Got Talent and being the first Slovenian lead in a Cirque du Soleil show. The story unfolds through different stages: authoritarian rule and its aftermath.
Director and dramaturge Diogo Freitas explained that the performance was inspired by the 50th anniversary of the April 25, 1974 revolution, marking the end of the dictatorship, partly drawing from letters exchanged by David David’s grandparents during the Colonial War.
“We’ve woven this into the dramaturgy, creating a shared narrative based on these letters that morphs into non-verbal, purely physical communication. How do we translate this into a circus act? We crafted a narrative, dramaturgical line and found a way to depict phases where the first represents the dictatorship, which is contrasted by the second phase exploring its end,” Freitas noted.
The artistic director of Momento – Independent Artists is keen on “showcasing how things were, perhaps even hinting at where they’re headed,” serving as a sort of “wake-up call.”
In the performance, the audience surrounds a central stage with a metal structure featuring a mast that sways with weight shifts, resembling a small boat, symbolizing instability and turbulence from both past and present.
“The set design mirrors the liberty and the democratic space we’re losing,” said Freitas about the production which inaugurates the newly founded circus company, Ângulo Crítico, based in Santo Tirso.
In the first segment of the show, the two characters remain physically separate, moving around the central structure while speeches from the Estado Novo era play in the background. In the subsequent part, they come together atop the metal framework, adapting to its varying stability.
“Liberdade Liberdade” premieres at Teatro Narciso Ferreira on Friday, with another performance on Saturday, before moving to Ponto C in Penafiel on December 27 and 28.
In Vila Nova de Famalicão, general admission tickets are priced at two euros, with a reduced rate of one euro for students, seniors, or Quadrilátero Cultural cardholders.
In 2026, the production is scheduled to tour Lagos, Lagoa, Ponte de Lima, Santana (Madeira), and Aveiro.
