Storytelling sessions, concerts, theater, poetry and cinema are part of the program for the 14th Festa dos Contos – Festival da Palavra in Montemor-o-Novo (Évora), between 16 and 19 May, the organization announced today.
Organized by Trimagisto – Cooperativa de Experimentação Teatral, the event will take place between the Cineteatro Curvo Semedo, the Tenda dos Contos and the Almeida Faria Municipal Library.
The theme chosen for this year’s initiative is “50 years since 25 April: what words do we not say to be free?”, the organization said in a statement sent to the Lusa news agency.
Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of democracy in Portugal, the event aims to address “the words that liberate or, ironically, which words we imprison in order to be free,” said the promoters.
It is “fundamental to provide a natural and cultural environment” between artists and spectators, “exploring the power of the word at every stage”, he stressed.
“The spoken word, the heard word, the sung word, the cared-for word and even the omitted word” have their place in this event and, “in the year in which 50 years of April 25 are being celebrated, [this] couldn’t make more sense,” Trimagisto argued.
According to the organizers, Festa dos Contos – Festival da Palavra “is more than just a festival, it’s an inviting and free place” where, for “four exciting days”, participants will have access to “a program of excellence”.
“This is a diverse festival that celebrates the richness of the word in all its various forms,” he said.
For this reason, the programme includes short story sessions, concerts, theater, poetry, cinema, spoken word, performances, talks and exhibitions, the organization said.
The party, where “everyone can fit”, features artists such as Jorge Serafim, Oswaldo Felipe Royo, Pedro Giestas, Trovadoras Itinerantes and Parapente700, among others.
Of the “extensive program”, the organization highlighted the premiere of the show “Contos Cantados”, by Carlos Marques, on May 18.
It is also an audiobook, illustrated by André da Loba, which is due to be released on the same day.
Another highlight will be the accredited training courses, which are new to this year’s program, and the community açorda, which will take place on the closing day and to which “everyone is invited”.
“It’s urgent that we come together as a community to be able to stop time, listen carefully and produce thought,” said Carlos Marques, the festival’s curator and storyteller, quoted in the press release.