‘Play for Rivers’ (Peça para Rios) is a production that forms part of the European OneAquaHealth project, in which Marionet is a partner, alongside a consortium of 13 other organisations. As part of this project, in addition to developing a participatory theatre piece, we are also producing a documentary, directed by Tiago Cerveira. The creative process was informed by a series of interviews conducted with people who live near urban streams and/or who regularly use these natural spaces for various purposes.

One of the many cultural benefits provided by urban rivers is the enjoyment of views of the river and the surrounding greenery. To quantify this benefit, the number of windows facing the stream is counted. The Madrigueira stream, in Vale das Flores, Coimbra, has over 200 windows looking out onto it. The ‘Play for Rivers’ event, which will take place on this stream, aims to draw the community’s attention to the importance of urban streams and their associated natural ecosystems.