FOMe joins the desire to eat for a Festival of Objects, Puppets and Other Eating, with gastronomy as a backdrop. Albufeira, Faro, Loulé, Olhão, São Brás de Alportel and Tavira will host this initiative, from 14 to 29 September, with shows in which the characters are kitchen utensils or a simple metaphor to talk about consumer society.
This year, the big news of this FOMe, an event created and organized by ACTA – The Algarve Theater Company, is the fact that it takes place in six municipalities, expanding to the entire Central Algarve.
«It wasn't easy», began by framing Luís Vicente, director of ACTA, in the presentation of the festival, held this Thursday, August 23, at the Pé de Copos bar, in Faro. But, with greater or lesser difficulties, for example due to «the timings», the FOMe is there.
«This achievement was born out of a dynamic that we were able to achieve with VATe – Vamos Apanhar o Teatro, ACTA's educational project. This edition does not correspond to what we would like to do and we are convinced that we will do better in the next edition, which we are already working on», considered the artistic director of ACTA.
The program includes 34 shows, an exhibition and two training sessions (one in traditional glove puppet theater, which will be repeated in all municipalities, and another, broader, in object theater, only in Loulé).
The festival takes on an international character, receiving, in addition to six Portuguese companies, as many foreign ones.
The shows to be presented will not necessarily and only have gastronomy as a starting point, but may relate to the theme, representing it through metaphors and through the intellectual and artistic questioning so characteristic of the art of theater.
And why gastronomy? The theme was chosen because it is “a universal language”, also wanting to explore “what is best in the Algarve in this area”, explained Jennine Trévidic, from ACTA, mentor of the festival.
For example, in “Un Elefante con Hambre” (An Elephant with Hunger), by the Argentine company Tuti, the work of a clown with puppets, to speak of hunger as “the will to do and create”, he said.
This is a show that takes place on September 22, in the Cloister of the Convento do Espírito Santo, in Loulé, at 10:30 am, and in Largo da Igreja de Querença, on the same day, but at 18:30 pm. The following day, it will be on Avenida da República, in Olhão, at 18 pm, and on the 00th, at 25:10 am, at Teatro Lethes de Faro.
Finally, “Un Elefante con Hambre” will pass by the Municipal Auditorium in Albufeira, on the 26th, at 10:30 am, and by Jardim Carreira Viegas, in São Brás de Alportel, at 11:00 am on the 29th of September.
Even before that, it is with “Lúmen – Uma História de Amor”, on September 14, that the satisfy the hunger. The meeting is scheduled for 22:00 pm, at Largo do Carmo, in Faro. From there, 10 puppets, from three to five meters, will parade through the city streets until Largo da Sé. There will be the show, as well as video-mapping.
At the moment, «registration is open for participation in this project», looking for people «over 12 years old». The training is free, takes place from the 4th to the 14th of September, at Escola Secundária Tomás Cabreira, in Faro, and entitles you to a diploma at the end. Enrollments can be made by contacting ACTA at 289 878 908.
But, back to the connection between FOMe and gastronomy. In “Os Transportedores”, by Radar 360 – Associação Cultural, for example, excesses, shortages and the consumer society itself are questioned. The exhibitions will take place on September 26, at 22 pm, at Rua da Nossa Senhora da Piedade, in Loulé, and at Palácio da Galeria de Tavira Park, on September 00, at 28 pm.
One of the highlights of the program is “Janet”, by the English company Helenandjohn, in which the characters are kitchen utensils and objects. It will be on the 20th and 21st of September, at 19 pm, at Pé de Copos RestoBar, in Faro, and, on the 28th, in the Cloisters of the Convento do Espírito Santo, in Loulé, at 21 pm, with Loulé puff pastry and liqueurs.
Basically, the programming made on the net wants to show what is done in glove theater, showing the differences between countries, as well as in the area of puppets of wires and theatre of objects. Therefore, there will be traditional wooden puppets from the Czech Republic (in “Wooden Circus”) and different glove theater performances, such as the case of “Pulcinella”, from Italy, “D. Roberto”, from Portugal, and “Punch and Judy”, from England.
The end of the FOMe will be on the 29th of September, at the Walls of Faro, from 16 pm, and with a concert by Kumpania Algazarra. Before, at 00:21 pm, there is the usual launch of the FOMe balloon.
Paulo Santos, vice president of the Chamber of Faro, was also at the presentation of the festival, predicting a «great success with the participation of the public» for this year's edition.
Gracinda Rendeiro, councilor of the Municipality of Olhão, alluded to the fact that this festival unites six municipalities. "Working together must be the objective of the municipalities", he said.
As for Vítor Guerreiro, Mayor of São Brás de Alportel, he congratulated Luís Vicente, artistic director of ACTA, for yet another initiative, calling him «Ambassador of Culture in the Algarve».
During three editions, it is assured that the FOMe will pass through Albufeira, Faro, Loulé, Olhão, São Brás de Alportel and Tavira. The agreement between the Municipalities and ACTA, with the support of CRESC Algarve 2020, was signed for three editions.
And so keep making your mouth water. To consult the complete program click here
Photos: Pedro Lemos | Sul Informação
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