On the occasion of World Theatre Day and in the year of the Commemorations of the I Centenary of the Republic, the President of the Republic decided to pay a tribute to theatrical professionals, decorating several individualities linked to the dramatic arts, in a ceremony which will be held in the National Coach Museum, in Lisbon, next Friday, 26 March, at 21.00 hours.
The individualities to be decorated by the President of the Republic are:
- Actor Ruy de Carvalho – Grand Officer of the Order of Sant’Iago da Espada
- Actor António Feio – Commander of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator
- Actress Beatriz Batarda - Commander of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator
- Director Joaquim Benite - Commander of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator
- Actress Manuela Maria - Commander of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator
- Mrs. Maria Custódia Gião – Officer of the Order of Merit
- Seiva Trupe Theatre Company – Honorary Member of the Order of Merit.
After the award ceremony the play “Sabina Freire”, written by Manuel Teixeira Gomes will be performed by Braga Theatre Company, in a joint production with the Coimbra Theatre Group - A Escola da Noite.
In the year of the celebration of the I Centenary of the Republic, the Braga Theatre Company and Escola da Noite created and produced a performance based on the play “Sabina Freire”, by Manuel Teixeira Gomes, President of the Portuguese Republic between 1923 and 1925.
The play’s first night was held on 30 October last, in the Braga Theatre Circus, and is included in the Programme of the Commemorations of the I Centenary of the Republic for 2010, with performances already booked in several Portuguese municipalities.
Manuel Teixeira Gomes was born in Portimão, on 27 May 1860. He early developed a strong interest in the arts, which led him to abandon the study of Medicine which he was reading in Coimbra. The family business in the trade and export of fruits and nuts allowed him to travel all over the world, visiting museums and galleries and enriching a selective private collection.
In 1911, he was the first representative of the Republic in the English capital and, in 1919, held the same office in Madrid. He was elected President of the Portuguese Republic in August 1923, and renounced the office in December 1925, distressed with national politics.
At that time he began a new and lengthy travel cycle until he set up residence in Bougie, Algeria, in September 1931. He then dedicated himself totally to writing, becoming a reference in the Portuguese literary field.
He died in Bougie, in October 1941. His mortal remains were removed to Portimão, in December 1950, in a symbolic ceremony and with a show of faith in the Republic.
“Sabina Freire”
Author: Manuel Teixeira Gomes
Directed by: Rui Madeira
Actors: Sílvia Brito, António Jorge, Ricardo Kalash, Miguel Magalhães, Lina Nóbrega (A Escola da Noite); Solange Sá, André Laires, Jaime Soares, Carlos Feio, Thamara Thaís (CTB)
Set design: Rui Anahory
Dress models: Sílvia Alves
Lighting: Fred Rompante
Graphics: Carlos Sampaio
Sound and image: Luís Lopes
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