Library rats are a different species now. They say they no longer care about books, that they gnaw from the outside in. Among the stories of the readers, the archives, the bookshelves, the floorboards, we find ghosts, naked men, relatives we have never met, places we have crystallised, hidden interests.
A show about a library is a good pretext to question the way in which the society we live in relates to spaces and thinks about public services. Can we guarantee that everyone has free access to all the books they want or need to read?
This was a gift from Marionet to Coimbra Municipal Library, celebrating its one hundred years of existence.
+INFO
Biblioteca Municipal de Coimbra
14 June 2023 | 6pm
Age rating | 6+
Running time | approx. 60m
Tickets | Free entry
The show included Portuguese sign language interpretation.
TOUR:
Portimão | Biblioteca Municipal Manuel Teixeira Gomes
6 November 2023
RESTAGE:
Coimbra | Biblioteca Municipal de Coimbra
16 December 2023
Playbill
We leave a special acknowledgement to the employees of the Coimbra Municipal Library who took the time to explain to us their job and the operation of the many spaces in this library: Adosinda Vinhas (Braille Service), Alexandra Augusto (Donations Gallery / Old Book), Anabela Eusébio (Annexed Network Office / Bookmobile), Branca Maria Fonseca (Binding Service), Catarina Gersão Alarcão (Restoration Service / Old Book), Cláudia Lemos (Audiovisual Service / Phonoteque), Cristina Firmo (City History Office), Helena Amaral (Children’s Library / Ludotheque), João Carvalho (Image Library), Maria de Fátima Carvalho (Reference Office), Maria Graça Ribeiro (Children’s Library / Ludotheque), Maria Odete Buco (Children’s Library / Ludotheque), Paula França (Historical Archives), and Zita Veiga (Periodical Catalogue). Finally, to Alexandra Firmo, for her kindness and availability for production support, and to Rodrigo Azenha, who, always affable, full of good will and patience, toured us to all the spaces, introduced us to all these people and cleared up all our doubts.
Discussion and Ideas Carolina Andrade, Francisca Moreira, Joana Ferrajão, Lavinia Zuccalà, Mário Montenegro, Vicente Paredes, Zé Ribeiro
Playwright Joana Ferrajão
Direction Mário Montenegro
Cast Carolina Andrade, Zé Ribeiro
Technical Direction and Lighting Design Guilherme Pompeu
Live Music and Sound Design Marcelo dos Reis
Wardrobe Lavinia Zuccalà
Image Pedro Andrade
Hair Design Carlos Gago – Ilídio Design Cabeleireiros
Portuguese Sign Language Interpretation Maria Carolina Nunes | Associação de Tradutores e Intérpretes de Língua Gestual Portuguesa
Production Direction Francisca Moreira
Communication Francisca Moreira, Ricardo Jerónimo
Executive Production Vicente Paredes
Promotional Video and Photography Tiago Cerveira
Photography Francisca Moreira
Video Registry João Cunha
With the support of
República Portuguesa — Cultura / Direção-Geral das Artes
Câmara Municipal de Coimbra
Biblioteca Municipal de Coimbra
MAFIA Federação Cultural de Coimbra
Ilídio — Design Cabeleireiros
Rádio Universidade de Coimbra
- Productions
- Library Rat (tour)
- Library Rat (restage)
- Clipping
- "Rato de Biblioteca" / Marionet [Mutante]
- A nova peça de teatro em Coimbra vai à caça do “Rato de Biblioteca” [New in Coimbra]
- Biblioteca Municipal de Coimbra assinala nascimento de Eugénio de Andrade e apresenta o “Rato de Biblioteca” [Mundial FM]
- Marionet apresenta “Rato de Biblioteca” [Diário As Beiras]
- O "Rato de Biblioteca" na Antena 3 [Domínio Público]
- O "Rato de Biblioteca" na RTP2 [ESECT TV]
- Ratos são protagonistas no 30º aniversário da Biblioteca Municipal Manuel Teixeira Gomes [e-Cultura]
- Portimão Library has a Rat that steals the show [Sul Informação]
- Ratos são protagonistas no 30º aniversário da Biblioteca Municipal Manuel Teixeira Gomes [Viva Portimão]
- Ratos vão à festa do 30.º aniversário da Biblioteca Municipal Manuel Teixeira Gomes [Postal]
- "Library Rat" marks the closure of the centenary of the Coimbra Municipal Library [Campeão das Províncias]