«A fire, in the good sense», will set fire to Monchique and Aljezur over the next two weekends, during the International Festival of Performing Arts, which will close this year's program of the “Lavrar o Mar” project.
At Cathedrals of Medronho, puppets, theatre, a new circus and music, the Fuse it will light up again and, on two occasions, the fire will light up the Castle of Aljezur.
But, as mentioned above, this is "a good fire", a fire that came to "ignite cultural dynamics" in Monchique and Aljezur, as he explained to Sul Informação Madalena Victorino, one of the people in charge of the “Lavrar o Mar” project.
Since the sea began to be “ploughed” in Monchique and Aljezur, the cultural manifestations of these two villages were joined by others, brought by Giacomo Scalisi and Madalena Victorino, to which a large part of the community was not used.
However, according to the choreographer, “what we created did not replace what already existed. We created programming to add to what was already here. So much so that we created events that were associated with the Sweet Potato Festival, in Aljezur, the Medronho Festival, in Monchique, or New Year's Eve».
The community's response was “very interesting and the population was immersed in our proposals”.
Aljezur and Monchique welcome, for a good part of the year, artists from various areas who live there, many of them foreigners. Cultural creation existed, but it was often done each one for their own side, which is why, according to Madalena Victorino, “Lavrar o Mar” also helped to change that.
“The artists knew each other, crossed paths in the market, said good morning or good afternoon, but they had never worked together. This was the first time they did it. In winter, these artists often have to leave here to work in European cities, to earn some money, because there's not much happening between October and May. But this time, they were able to work here and I think an unstoppable dynamic may have been created for the future».
A dynamic that this year took its first steps and the intention of Madalena Victorino and Giacomo Scalisi is that “Lavrar o Mar” returns next year and in an improved version.
“It's the first time we're working here and we're learning a lot. Next year, we hope to be able to repeat the program again and improve it, because we are already more used to the size of the territory, to its nature», adds Madalena Victorino, in her interview with Sul Informação.
The International Festival of Performing Arts officially kicks off on May 20, in Aljezur, at 21 pm, with a fire installation at the Castle of Aljezur, by the French company Carabosse, followed by the Largo do Mercado, there will be music with Sofiane Saidi & Mazalda.
On the 19th and 21st of May, it's time to light the Rastilho again, but this time at night and in a different place. This tour, which is also a show of physical theater, dance and live music, begins at Corte do Sobro, in Serominheiro.
Also on the first weekend, between Friday and Sunday, but in Monchique, it will be possible to rediscover the traveling show Medronho, which combines theater with the alchemical ritual of distilling the medronho.
A highlight in these last days of the “Lavrar o Mar” program will also be the puppet theater with “Dans l'Atelier”, which will challenge children and adults to play with a puppet for 18 minutes. This show takes place on the 26th and 27th of May, in Aljezur, and on the 28th, in Monchique.
Also through a puppet the story of “Soleil Couchant” (The setting sun) will be told. the theater company Tof Theater will present this piece at Praia da Arrifana, on the 26th and 27th of May.
Carabosse once again illuminates Aljezur Castle with natural firelight, on the second weekend of the festival, on May 27th, in a show different from the one presented on May 20th. This time, participants are invited to enter the its interior, where there will also be a musical show.
In Monchique, Antiga Serração hosts two shows between the 26th and 28th of May. From 19:00 pm, La Cosa will bring the new circus to this space, in a performance whose central element is wood, alluding to the place's past. Next, the Petit Theater de Gestes, at 21:3 pm, in a show that combines the magic of the circus, object theatre, dance and puppetry.
The complete schedule can be consulted here and tickets for the various shows can be purchased here. And if you really want to go watch, be sure to hurry up and buy tickets, because they usually sell out quickly.
“Lavrar o Mar” is a project financed by the «365 Algarve» program and by the Municipalities of Aljezur and Monchique.
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