Cape Verde
Cape Verdean theatre presents itself in Europe

afrol News, 17 June - Cape Verde continues to be noted for its "cultural invasion" of the European continent. This week, two Cape Verdean theatre groups have presented new plays, both written by Cape Verdean authors, on Dutch and Portuguese stages.

The first newcomer to present himself this week was Mario Lucio, the writer and musician working for the theatre group "Simentera," in Portugal's second city, Oporto. His play, which also is his first appearance as a dramatic author, ("Adão e as Sete Pretas de Fuligem") was written specifically for the cultural events that are taking place in this Portuguese city, as it celebrates its year as a European Cultural Capital.

The play was to be seen throughout the week, its last performance being today. It has been directed by João Branco, the artistic director of the Portuguese Cultural Centre, who originally had taken the initiative to unite Cape Verdean actors and technicians living in Oporto. 

Meanwhile, on Friday 15 June and today, the theatre group of the Mindelo Cultural Centre performed in the Dutch city of Rotterdam. The group preformed the play "Offences by an artist" by Germano de Almeida. Also here, João Branco directed the staging. 

The plays in Rotterdam were performed in the Zuidplein Theatre within a campaign for the circulation of Cape Verdean culture, which is taking place in the Dutch city during the month of June 2001. 

The Cape Verdean theatre has firm traditions that date back to the 1940s. Various small groups however already existed by the turn of the century, but they entertained only the elite with musical dramas and comedies. By the 1970s, Cape Verdean theatre got more vigorous, and had the support of an energetic younger generation. Local theatre traditions were forged with international standards.

Contemporary Cape Verdean theatre, often using both social and metaphysical themes, has had difficulties in finding an audience. New, self confident artists with international experience however also have led the theatre ensembles abroad, where they are enjoying from the recent "discovery" of Cape Verdean culture by Europeans and Americans.

Sources: RDP Àfrica and afrol archives

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