What is the EITP?
The Iberian Playback Theatre Gathering (EITP) is an annual three-day event that creates a space for people interested in Playback Theatre to share and connect. It is organized by the Iberian Playback Theatre Association (AITP), and this one will be the seventh edition! This gathering is open to everyone, whether or not you are from the Iberian Peninsula, and whether you have a lot, little, or no experience in Playback Theatre.
This year's theme will be Stories of Resistance
This year, Portugal celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, the revolution that, in 1974, freed Portugal from the decades-long fascist dictatorship. The Carnation Revolution was a defining moment in Portuguese history. And the red carnation became a symbol of the Portuguese revolution, thanks to the following story:
Celeste Caeiro worked in a Lisbon restaurant that had decided to celebrate its first anniversary on April 25, 1974, by distributing red carnations to its customers. When she arrived at the restaurant that morning, she encountered the tanks (the “chaimites”) of the ongoing revolution and realized the restaurant wouldn’t be able to operate as usual that day. Celeste, now holding several bunches of carnations, began her journey back to her room in Chiado. Approaching one of the tanks, she asked what was happening, and a soldier replied, “This is a revolution!” The soldier also asked her for a cigarette, but since Celeste didn’t have one, she offered the soldier the only things she had to give—red carnations. The soldier accepted and placed the flower in the barrel of his rifle. Inspired by this moment, Celeste continued distributing carnations to the soldiers she encountered, who repeated the gesture of placing the carnations in their rifle barrels.
The Portuguese revolution is known for being a peaceful, non-violent revolution, although five people were killed during a protest in front of the Political Police (PIDE) headquarters. It is also known as the Revolution of Freedom. With the theme “Stories of Resistance,” we aim to highlight the freedoms that are yet to be achieved. What is the role of Playback Theatre in this context? What stories are told? Who tells whose story? What stories are silenced? Who silences whose stories? Which narratives should we prioritize? Which voices need to be amplified?
What are you waiting for?
It will be on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of November. Early-bird registration is available now!