“For us, it makes perfect sense to stage this play, especially in the context we live in, because what happens in the play could be about Palestine or Ukraine,” explained José Nunes, one of the directors, after a press rehearsal.
Shakespeare’s tragedy portrays the return of General Titus to Rome after triumphing against the Goths and the struggle for the throne’s succession.
The play is adapted by José Nunes, Cátia Pinheiro, who also direct the production, and Hugo van der Ding.
José Nunes mentioned that the play seeks to showcase violence, as Shakespeare did in 1590, provoking a reaction from the audience and making them question the attraction to tragic stories of violence, blood, and others’ misfortunes.
Furthermore, “Titus,” featuring actors such as Pedro Frias, Vicente Gil, Rui Maria Pêgo, and Tita Maravilha, confronts audiences with the contemporary hunger for revenge.
José Nunes highlighted that in today’s world, there is a certain trivialization of violence and dehumanization that occurs not only in war contexts but daily when people consume content showing violence on their phones.
In “Titus,” running until December 7, characters are driven by a desire for revenge and find moral justifications for their actions.
This, he added, reflects current conflicts.
Marked by excessive violence, bloodshed, and a lust for power, the play invites audiences to critically examine power, revenge, and the passivity fueling endless cycles of conflict, he emphasized.
Speaking to journalists, actor Pedro Frias, who plays Titus, remarked that the play is “very current” because it involves deaths and intolerance towards differences and others.
“I hope that, in the end, when people leave the theater, they go home and reflect on the present, the society we are in, the country, and the world,” he concluded.
“Titus” is a co-production by Estrutura, Teatro Nacional São João in Porto, and Centro Cultural de Belém in Lisbon.
After being staged in Porto, “Titus” will be performed at the Centro Cultural de Belém from January 16 to 25, 2026.
