Guimarães Rosa’s short story “Third Bank of the River” is the starting point for Bubuia, a free interpretation of the tale in which a man gives up everything to live alone in a canoe in the middle of the river.

The performance has elements that instigate children’s imagination and sensory perception. Water buckets and basins are arranged on the stage, which is set up on the same level as the small spectators. White balloons are filled up and emptied by the cast. A small boat moves in the air, not in the water.

Bubuia connects with the audience through suggestions, and the children are free to imagine the rest of the story themselves. The three actresses turn somersaults, crawl and walk on all four, using gestures that are familiar to the toddlers and opening a direct communication channel with them. “One of the main directives of the show is that there are no thematic barriers to making art for babies,” says actress Cirila Targhetta.

The dramaturgy is a partnership of the collectives Antônia, whose show Voa won best children’s play at the 2017 Sesc/DF Awards, and Instrumento de Ver, in their first experience with theater for babies.

Artistic direction: Beatrice Martins, Daniel Lacourt and Julia Henning (Instrumento de Ver)
Playwright: Coletivo Instrumento de Ver and Coletivo Antônia
Cast: Cirila Targhetta, Kamala Ramers and Tatiana Bittar
Production: Coletivo Antônia

Free for children until 12 years old.