Clara and Fernando never met. Fernando wants to meet Clara, but she doesn’t want to meet him because she doesn’t like him. Fernando insists because he really likes her, but Clara shows Fernando that she’s a monster. Even so, he likes that and tries to get close. She dislikes that. Then, Fernando reveals that he has a secret map that indicates where is the gland that makes us like others. He thinks Clara may have a problem there, but she complains that she doesn’t. They decide to find out where Clara’s gland is, which will be somewhere inside her.
“The Secret Gland” is about the systems that compose our bodies and whose articulated functioning allows us to live. We are intricate. We hold ourselves in a complex body, and we pay little attention to how we function. And this is surprising because of the tremendous importance we attach to being alive.
If on the one hand there is a well-demarcated border between an individual and his surroundings, on the other there is an extensive border between the individual and his interior. We exist there, in that inter-frontier space. Some processes continually occur during this ongoing task of staying alive.
“The Secret Gland” seeks to bring people closer to the structure and functioning of their bodies, deepening their perception of who we are and how we are. It’s a play across all ages, but with the young audience as a special recipient, trying to meet their issues as they burn with more impetus.
Discussion and Ideas Filipe Eusébio, Francisca Moreira, Laetitia Morais, Lucília Raimundo, Marcelo dos Reis, Mário Montenegro, Pedro Andrade, Rui Simão
Playwright and Direction Mário Montenegro
Cast Filipe Eusébio, Lucília Raimundo
Set Design and Wardrobe Pedro Andrade
Lighting Design Rui Simão
Technical Direction and Stage Lightning João Teixeira
Video Laetitia Morais
Original Soundtrack and Sound Design Marcelo dos Reis
Image Pedro Andrade and João Sarnadas
Executive Production and Scene Photography Francisca Moreira
Hair Design Carlos Gago – Ilídio Design
Co-production Marionet | Convento São Francisco
In Partnership withCNC – Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular da Universidade de Coimbra | Ler+ Ciência (2019)
With the support of
Direção-Geral das Artes
A Escola da Noite
Fundação Bissaya Barreto
Ilídio Design Cabeleireiros
MAFIA – Federação Cultural de Coimbra
Teatro Académico de Gil Vicente
Rádio Universidade de Coimbra
