14th Montemor-o-Novo International Puppet Festival (2022)

With our eyes on the future and our ears tuned to the past, with a scent of tradition and a taste of modernity, we set off for this edition of our Montemor-o-Novo International Puppet Festival. A gathering of people for people.
Twelve companies and collectives present 21 puppet shows combining dance, body, objects, materials, music and visual arts, showcasing the transdisciplinary nature of puppetry with all its capacity for constant change.
The Alentejo countryside and our castle as a backdrop welcome us with open arms, transforming themselves into stages that dance, speak and sing.
It is in this ability to transform ourselves and others that we believe and see as essential for a more inclusive, egalitarian and just society, improving the way we relate to each other and to ourselves.
The relationship between various artists from around the world and Portugal with Montemor-o-Novo and the Alentejo, where time takes on another meaning, with a culture rich in symbols and natural and architectural heritage, makes this Encontro unique for all who visit us and attend our programme. This symbiosis between the art and culture of a region merges into a unique and distinctive moment.

These companies and collectives from Belgium, France, Peru, Brazil, and Portugal share with us their vision and approach to the performing arts.
As complementary activities, we will have two workshops for the school community, a masterclass for professionals or those interested in body work as a dramatic medium, a concert, and an exhibition.
In this edition, we will have two extensions of our festival. One extension will be in Lisbon, at the Teatro Ibérico, with the presentation of four shows, and the second extension will be in the parish of Santiago do Escoural with the presentation of a performance and a concert in Aldeia da Casa Branca.
The activities took place at the Cine-Teatro Curvo Semedo, the Sociedade Filarmónica Carlista, the Agrupamento de Escolas, the Mercado Municipal, the Espaço da Alma d’Arame and the Parque Urbano.

Production | Alma d’Arame
Co-production | Montemor-o-Novo Municipal Council
Funding | Portuguese Government and Direção Geral das Artes