Brazil's Celebs Criticise Government On-Stage

06/10/2016 - 10h50

It's not unusual nowadays for famous faces to set trends: the latest fashions, must-have products and the like. However, in a radical plot twist, Brazilian performers have begun bringing politics onto the stage, unwittingly starting a craze among their showbiz cronies.

Director Kleber Mendonça Filho, actress Sônia Braga and the entire cast of the film "Aquarius" protested against the suspension of Dilma Rousseff on the last day of the Cannes Film Festival. Their demonstration sparked a wave of similar protests in theatres and performances the world over.

Posters emblazoned with phrases such as "Out With Temer" and "Temer Never" are now "an item you carry around with you in your handbag, just in case", says actress Roberta Estrela D'Alva.

D'Alva starred in the production "Garrincha" written by the American composer Bob Wilson. On May 29, the evening of the play's last run, the curtain came down on a surprise ending: after the applause had died down, the cast started to show anti-Temer posters. Before long, some of the audience had joined in.

Choreographer Lia Rodrigues had already done something similar on May 20, at the opening of her production, Project Brasil. The dance show has been touring Europe and will be performing at several German cities over the next few weeks.

On the inaugural night, as the show ended, the performers lifted up placards with letters forming the words: "Against the Coup in Brazil".

Actor and director Guilherme Weber also caused a stir when he appeared on the Brazilian chat show, "Programa do Jô" last Thursday (2).

Just as he was standing up to leave, the performer hastily added: "We didn't have time to talk about it, but I would just like to say quickly, Out With Temer". He spoke the words with quiet gravity, like they were part of an ordinary sentence, without pumping his fist or even raising his voice.

Folha contacted the President of the Republic to asking him to comment on the protests. No reply was received before this article went to press.

Translated by GILLIAN SOPHIE HARRIS

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	Divulgação
	On the inaugural night, the performers lifted up placards with letters forming the words: "Against the Coup in Brazil"