CONTEXT
In 2021, and for the second year in a row, Marionet together with CNC and CEIS20 won the University of Coimbra’s Promotion of Scientific Culture initiative. This year’ s project was focused on neuropsychiatric disorders, in particular Bipolar Disorder.
Bipolar Disorder is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterised by alternating episodes of euphoria and depression. It can therefore be very disabling, leading to sleep disturbances, an increased propensity to develop other pathologies (e.g. cardiovascular and neurological) and a major social impact on the lives of patients and their families. But Bipolar Disorder should not be seen as limiting, and it is particularly important to reduce the social stigma that still surrounds it and many other mental disorders, which often deter patients from seeking help.
The project was developed within the “Unknownness Lab”, a research and creation initiative, created by Marionet in 2018, in order to address scientific challenges with an interdisciplinary team of scientists and artists.
BIPOLAR DISEASE: ONE OTHER SIDE (Digital Artistic Object)
“Bipolar Disorder: One Other Side” made its first public appearance in a video, shot by Tiago Cerveira, directed by Mário Montenegro, with the scientific consultancy and performance of the CNC researchers Ana Catarina Pereira and Cláudia Fragão Pereira, and the psychiatrists Nuno Madeira and Tiago Santos, from the CHUC – Coimbra Hospital and University Centre. Music by Marcelo dos Reis and production by the teams of Marionet and CNC. This video is online at Marionet’s Youtube channel.
TALK OF DISQUIET (AN OXYMORON WITH FUMAÇA) (Talk and e Collective Listening Session)
On 9 March 2024 we organised a collective listening session, followed by an informal conversation with the Fumaça podcast, a remarkable investigative journalism initiative that was born with the increasingly pertinent purpose of dealing with various topics at length and in depth. In their editorial charter, they assume themselves to be an independent, progressive and dissident media organisation. At a time when we were finalising the preparation of a show that deals with bipolar disorder, we welcomed people to Marionet who were interested in listening together to one of the podcast episodes of the “Desassossego” series, which deals with mental health from different angles, and then we’ll open up the session to an exchange of ideas and experiences.
OXYMORON, BETWEEN SOLSTICES AND EQUINOXES (Show)
At the beginning of 2024, preparations began for a new show built from scratch, based on the theme of bipolar disorder. The original text, written by Mário Montenegro, was presented at the Convento São Francisco in Coimbra, between 20 and 24 March. In addition to the research inherent in the creative process, the play was also based on a series of interviews with patients and doctors who deal with this illness. Subsequently, the show was also presented at the Casa da Cultura in Seia in February 2025, and at the Cine-Teatro Garret in Póvoa de Varzim in February 2026.
POST-SHOW TALK
Immediately after the last performance of “Oxímoro, entre Solstícios e Equinócios” on 24 March 2024 at the Convento São Francisco, a conversation was held to informally address the various themes that inspired this play and that found artistic expression in it. In addition to the participation open to the public, the panel included our artistic director, a person living with bipolar disorder, a scientific researcher, a psychiatrist, and a nurse.
TRIPOLAR – DIGITAL MARIONET (Digital Artistic Object)
As part of this project, ‘Tripolar’ was created, a video that embodies the fourth expression of Marionet Digital, which aims to be a space for artistic expression, created in formats designed for digital communication. This digital art object deals with the theme of bipolar disorder, in which we imagine three scenarios that unfold following the same event: one experienced by a person in a depressive state, another by a person in a manic phase, and another by a person in a euthymic period.
OXYMORON, BETWEEN SOLSTICES AND EQUINOXES (Book)
The theatre play created for the show ‘Oxímoro, entre solstícios e equinócios’ has been published in book form and officially presented at the Coimbra Book Fair on 24 June 2025. This is the first in the Marionet Collection, a set of volumes released by Edições Húmus and which brings together theatre pieces written and produced by our company.
CNC UC
