Interview with the Canto da Lagoa Community Theatre Group

Abstract

The theatre at Canto da Lagoa is a story that began in 1994, in a centre of early childhood education that served children from two to six years. Because make-believe and imitation are part of children’s development, presenting stories and playing at making theatre was routine for children in school. The university’s support provided the group with experience in different games and methodologies of theatre, such as the Theatre of the Oppressed, Playback Theatre, theatre of animated forms, and popular dances, and provided contact with Argentinean community theatre. Community theatre is a festive theatrical production focused on the community, performed by groups of friends open to participants with various levels of skills and interests, who play and produce art collaboratively. In short, community theatre asserts the principles of coexistence, community, and celebration. The celebration refers to festive social means that provoke important relations inherent in the collaborative artistic act.