O teatro na região leste de Belo Horizonte: uma cartografia de espaços de convívio e performance

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the emergence of a theatrical hub in the Eastern Region of Belo Horizonte, a Brazilian city and the capital of Minas Gerais State. The research stems from my perception that this area singularly concentrates a range of theatrical practices and spaces. I thus explore the relationships between theater and the city by describing and analyzing this territory, which is filled with non-conventional theatrical spaces – that is, spaces originally built for other purposes that have, at some point, come to host theatrical performances and groups. I began by mapping the theatrical practices present in the region in order to then select specific groups and spaces for more in-depth analysis. This endeavor took shape through Bagunça, a scenic-musical parade that took to the streets of the Eastern Region in October 2023. The performance was the result of Oficinão, a project by the cultural center Galpão Cine Horto, which has proven to be a significant promoter of theater in the region over the past three decades. Based on this experience, I reflect on the concepts of liminality and conviviality in relation to theater, developed respectively by Ileana Caballero and Jorge Dubatti, as well as on the notion of the urban space's performativity. Also drawing from the Bagunça performance, I deepen the investigation into the relationships of conviviality and artistic creation surrounding the theatrical spaces: Galpão Cine Horto, Gruta! – Casa de Passagem, and Teatro 171.