DOMESTIC ANIMALS by Coletivo POP at Teatro Micaelense

The premiere of Animais Domésticos, directed by Tiago de Faria, took place on November 23rd, opening the second edition of POP – Stage Arts Festival.

Synopsis:

The private sphere, a refuge from the pressures of the outside world, is often a stage for tensions, inequalities, and power dynamics. Animais Domésticos offers a perspective on the hidden structures of class, race, and gender within society, on how people live at home, on the relationship between the digital world and private life, and on the evolution of social norms and attitudes that redefine what was once considered private and is now public.

Cast:

Ana Sales, Anabela Almeida, Bruno Correia, Catarina Ferreira, Dulce Sequeira, João Malaquias, Katarina Rodrigues, Luís Rodeiro, Luísa Alves, Luisa Cavalleri, Natália de Lima Ferreira, Nuno D’Almeida

Chorus:

Andreia Ferreira, Daniela Leal, Eliana Vicente, Francisco Albergaria, Inês Penedo, Joana Cavaco, Joana Moreira, Katarzyna Mazur, Luísa Borges, Maria Pia, Mónica Moura, Ricardo Teixeira, Rita Pereira, Sara Nascimento, Tiago Matias

Artistic DirectionTiago de Faria

Texts Tiago de Faria, Tiago Melo Bento, Beatriz Raposo

Visual Representation of the Performance

Coordination – Rocio Matosas Set Design – Alexandra Baptista, Francisco Melo Bento, Ivo Baptista, Katarina Rodrigues Construction Support – Alejandra Brito Costumes – Ana Sales Props – Rocio Matosas Lighting Design – Rocio Matosas Video – Tiago Melo Bento Video Support – Bruno Correia | Nuno Pedro | Ana Sales Poster – Rocio Matosas

Assistant Director – Zala Ngita Stage Management – Paula Coelho

"Animais Domésticos" had three key moments leading to its completion. The first involved a group of participants—some of whom would later join the cast—in an exploration of the themes of domestic life, public exposure, and the need for private space. Over ten days, alternating between improvisation rehearsals and sharing personal stories, we developed a collective dramaturgy and imagination that would serve as the backdrop for the universe of the performance.

In another phase, the writing process began, accompanied by a workshop and research on the nature of playwriting. Finally, the elements of the performance’s visual composition came together, along with broader community participation.

Tiago de Faria

The group of actors who began rehearsals was later joined by the participants of the Artistic Residency "Character CHORUS – a collective gesture."

The result reflected in this performance is, therefore, not the expression of a single vision or an isolated authorial voice. It is the product of individual efforts and the overwhelming generosity of all those who participated or contributed in any way. It is a mirror of the best a community can offer, reinforced by the professional rigor of those who refuse to believe that the amateur/professional dichotomy defines the seriousness of the creative process or the final quality of a work.

Tiago de Faria

The POP Collective was born during the first edition of POP – Stage Arts Festival in 2023 as a natural extension of the creation of the performance Ouço-te na sombra da praça vazia mas não sei de ti. Resulting from a collaborative process with the community of São Miguel Island, the collective presents itself as a hybrid space, bringing together both professionals and non-professionals in the performing arts. It embraces an approach that values inclusion, tolerance, and active participation in the construction of shared artistic expressions.