By Jack Arnhold, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The children’s theatre show ‘Dinossauros e Pelancas’ (Dinosaurs and Pelicans) is making a return to Rio de Janeiro with shows taking place between June 30th and July 8th, Saturdays and Sundays at 4PM, at Caixa Cultural in central Rio de Janeiro.
With a mix of projections, live music and a thread of endless imagination, the play brings together six actors who encourage the audience to travel through the enchanted world of children, where everything is allowed.
Dedicated to all the grandparents “who have had a lot of work to make everything that exists in the world,” ‘Dinossauros e Pelancas’ (Dinosaurs and Pelicans) is built from games inspired by the imaginative power of the child; so there are many surprising stories that come from this fertile source, including a grandmother who lived with the dinosaurs, the star-making machine that created the sky, a popcorn sandwich and other wild tales.
Directed by Juliana Linhares with choreography by Clarice Lissovsky, the play is collaboratively constructed through games and improvisation that were formulated to allow the actors to make the most of their imaginative power.
“The show was born from the need I felt to see theater for children with a more current pedagogy, involving contemporary issues of our society.” explains Juliana Linhares.
The actors also play guitar, bass, saxophone, keyboard and other instruments, and the interweaving of the live songs with the gradual unravelling of the play helps to add an atmosphere of fun and spontaneity.
“The play leaves holes for the children to fill with their own stories. They respond, they sing, they get involved, they try to help in the investigations, they give their opinion or they contemplate the mysteries, filled with wonder.” comments the playwright Clarice Lissovsky.
On Saturday, July 7th and Sunday, 8th from 10AM to 1PM, there will also be a free workshop offered about the construction of contemporary children’s theater, given by the director Juliana Linhares and the actor-creators of the show. The workshop is aimed at actors, artists in general and theater students over the age of sixteen interested in furthering their research on contemporary children’s theater.
This is a perfect show for those who’ve recently enjoyed the family day out at Praça Grécia or some of the recent ‘Festas Juninas,’ or perhaps even someone looking to introduce their child to the world of theatre.
What: Dinossauros e Pelancas
When: this Saturday, July 7th and Sunday, July 8th, 4PM
Where: CAIXA Cultural, Av. Almirante Barroso, nº 25, Centro, 20031-003 Rio de Janeiro
Entrance: R$10-R$20; For more information, go to the event page, here.