Teatro de Arena was a theatre in São Paulo, Brazil. Established in 1953, it was one of the most important Brazilian theatre groups in the 1950s and 1960s. Its importance stemmed from the rising of Brazilian nationalism promoted by the Vargas era. It performed works by the likes of Renato José Pécora, Augusto Boal and Gianfrancesco Guarnieri, before closing in 1972.
History The Teatro de Arena was founded in Sāo Paulo in 1953 by It was an alternative form of theater production from the current expensive state of Brazilian theater. Jose Renato was a prominent actor, director and one of the founders whose vision was for the theater and production was to make it more accessible than those productions being put on by the Brazilian Theater Comedy.
The first professional casting the theater company put on was Tonight is Ours in 1953 in MAM Halls, Museum of Modern Art. This early company consisted of José Renato, Sérgio Britto, Henrique Becker, Geraldo Mateus, Renata Blaunstein and Monah Delacy. After two years of performing in makeshift areas, the company finally inaugurates the room of Rua Theodoro Biama in 1955 which is in a renovated garage in front of the Church of the consolation which is in the middle of São Paulo.
The saving of the theater due to economic reasons was credited to Gianfrancesco Guarnieri. He was a young actor and playwright who graduated from the Teatro Paulista do Estudante. Even though Guarnieri is Italian, he was extremely passionate about the path that Brazilian theater was going on. In 1958, They Don't Wear Black-Tie, written by Guarneri was a massive success. The success of the production allowed for the space for the beginning of the Seminars of Dramaturgy movement that was to bring new Brazilian authors to the light. Out of this movement, Oduvaldo Vianna Filho and Flávio Migliaccio emerged.
Productions +YearProductionPlaywrightDirectorNotable Facts1953This Night is OursStafford DickensThis is when the company was founded by José Renato, Sergio Britto, Henrique Becker, Geraldo Mateus, Renata Blaunstein, and Mohan Delacy.1953-1954The Long GoodbyeTennessee WilliamsJosé RenatoVoulez Vous Jouer Avec Moa? (Would You Like to Play with Me?) (Portuguese title: Uma mulher e três palhaços)Marcel AchardJosé Renato Judas on Holy SaturdayMartins PenaSergio Britto1956Of Mice and MenJohn SteinbeckAugusto BoalThis assembly was under the direction of Augusto Boal, who brought in the fresh faces from the Theater of the Student, which included Guarnieri, Vianninha, Flavio Migliaccio, Riva Nimitz, and Milton Gonçalves. 1957Juno and the PaycockSean O'Casey1958They Don't Wear Black-TieGianfrancesco GuarnieriJosé Renato1959Chapetuba Futebol ClubeAugusto BoalEven those this is directed by Boal, the story is by Oduvaldo Vianna Filho.1959Gente Como a GenteAugusto BoalStory by Roberto Freire, a psychiatrist. 1960Fogo FrioAugusto BoalStory by Benedito Ruy Barbosa1960Revolution in South AmericaJose RenatoStory by Augusto Boal 1961The Testament of the CangaceiroAugusto BoalFrom Chico de Assis1962Mister Carrari RiflesJosé RenatoStory by Bertolt Brecht1962The MandragoraAugusto BoalStory by Machiavelli1964 TartuffeMolière1965Arena tells of ZumbiBoal and GuarnieriMusic used by Edu Lobo1967-1968Arena tells of TiradentesBoal and Guarnieri1968First São Paulo Fair of OpinionAn event organized by Boal at the Teatro Ruth Escobar. 1968McBirdBoal1968The Caucasian Chalk CircleBertolt BrechtStory by Barbara Garson, also performed at the Teatro Ruth Escobar.1968La MoschettaAngelo BecolcoThis play failed.1969The Resistible Rise of Arturo UiBertolt BrechtThis play failed.1970International tour in the US1971Teatro Jornal- 1st EditionAugusto Boal1971Arena tells of BolivarDue to this being censored by the Military Regime, this is not shown in Brazil. 1972Sweet Latin America, Latin AmericaAntônio PedroThis was made with a collective of the theater. 1972Drums of the NightFernando PeixotoStory by Bertolt Brecht, staged at multiple theaters.1972The Week- These Intrepid Guys and Their Wonderful Week of Modern ArtStory by Carols Queiroz Telles, also staged at multiple theaters.
Process of Closing The theater had an odd process of falling apart. During the Rio tour of They Don't Wear Black-Tie, Oduvaldo Vianna Filho and Milton Gonçalves left the company and founded the 1961 movement of Popular Centers of Culture (CPCs), by the National Union of Students - UNE. The next person to leave the theater was José Renato. He moved to Rio in 1962 to be head of direction of the National Theater of Comedy - (TNC).
In 1968 and 1969, Guarnieri left the theater, leaving the work to Boal. These were busy years considering there was an international tour through the United States (New York, Berkeley, San Francisco, Kent, Cleveland, Kansas City, Buffalo, Chapaqua), Peru (Lima), and Mexico (Pueblas, Guanaguato, Guadalajara, Monte Rei, Leon, Porto Si, and Morela) with the Arena tells of Zumbi from Guarnieri and Boal, and Arena tells of Bolivar from Boal.
In 1971, when Boal was putting together the script for Arena Conta Bolivar, which did end up banned in Brazil, Boal was arrested and soon after goes into exile. The last production the theater put on was carried out by Núcleo 2 do Arena from 1969. This is when Teatro de Arena passes the reins to the actor Luis Carlos Arutin.
The last two shoes from the theater were Bertolt Brecht's Night Drums and Carlos Queiroz Telles These Intrepid Guys and Their Wonderful Week of Modern Art, however it was presented by Núcleo 2 do Arena. These shows were shown at the São Pedro theater and directed by Fernando Peixoto.
Arena closes its doors completely in 1972 and is bought by the no longer running National Service of Theater - SNT in 1977. As of 1990, the rooms are no longer used to teach theatrical language research processes that add to the cultural life of the region.
References
Additional Sources
Panorama of the Brazilian Theater, by Sábato Magaldi - Global Editora Small History of the Theater in Brazil (four centuries of theater in Brazil), by Mario Cacciaglia - EDUSP Le Théâtre Arena (São Paulo 1953-1977) - Richard du Roux, Aix-en-Provence, Université de Provence, 1991,2 vol., 758 p.- Du "théâtre en rond" au "théâtre populaire" «Le théâtre brésilien». In : CORVIN, Michel, Dictionnaire encyclopédique du théâtre, Paris, Bordas, 1st ed., 1991; 2e ed. 1995 (entrées corrigées); Paris, Larousse, 3e ed. .: 1998 (entées corrigés et augmentés); Paris Hachette, 4e ed.: 2007 (entrées augmentés).