The show, whose work in progress was presented in the previous edition of MITsp, is part of Janaina Leite’s broader research about the real in theatre – now focusing on the obscene. From the theoretical text Stabat Mater (in Latin, there was the mother), by philosopher and psychoanalyst Julia Kristeva, the artist and researcher proposes the format of a performance-lecture about women, going back to Virgin Mary’s story, trying at the same time to account for her mother’s deletion in her previous play, Conversas com Meu Pai. Escorted by her own mother and the figure of Priapus, a character performed by a porn actor, she radically articulates historically conflicting themes such as motherhood and sexuality. Having terror and pornography as aesthetic bases, Leite examines the origins of a historical deal between the feminine and the masculine, which the work tries to disarm without first taking risks and facing the systems of orgasm and pain securing these positions.

Janaina Leite has a consolidated research on documentary and autobiography in Brazilian theatre. She is currently developing her Performing Arts PHD supported by Fapesp, at Escola de Comunicação e Artes (ECA/USP). She created the shows Festa da Separação: Um Documentário Cênico, Conversas com Meu Pai and Stabat Mater, for which she was nominated, in 2019, for the Shell Theatre Award in the dramaturgy category. She published the book Autoescrituras Performativas: do Diário à Cena, reinforcing her research in documentary theatre. Leite idealized and coordinated the study groups Feminino Abjeto 1, Memórias, Arquivos e (Auto) Biografias and Feminino Abjeto 2. She is also co-founder, actress and director of Grupo XIX de Teatro, with whom she created and performed in several shows recognized by the main awards and support funds in the country.

CRITICS

The enacting highlight which, in fact, starts from a huge authorial text, is the clash proposed by the author, systematically, patiently and generously between reality and representation. From simple extremes, such as the strong effect of the fake slap in the face, to epistemological ones, such as the intangible real, or the endless trauma, there is an honest and diligent effort to show the story of a vertical exploration of truth’s being and suggestion. Yes, perhaps this is no longer theatre in many aspects, but it is subversive mainly because even without any personal or artistic modesty, it succeeds to represent the unrepresentative it challenges.

LUIS FERNANDO RAMOS, theatre critic and researcher   

The idea to create an explicit sex scene between Janaina and a porn actor endorses the obvious connection of Stabat Mater with Angélica Liddell’s theatre. As in the creations of the Catalan multi-artist, male violence against women emerges as a theme and the performative plan invites the actress to expose the body to extreme situations. At first, the premise aims at a subversion of two axes: the rape victim, the body previously tortured, will now be in control. And the mother, always silent, will be urged to shock and move.

MARIA EUGÊNIA DE MENEZES, Teatro Jornal

TECHNICAL SHEET

CONCEPTION, DIRECTION AND DRAMATURGY: Janaina Leite
PERFORMANCE: Janaina Leite, Amália Fontes Leite and Priapus
SPECIAL PARTICIPATION: amateur Priapus (Lucas Asseituno) and professional Priapus (Loupan)
DRAMATURG AND DIRECTION ASSISTANT: Lara Duarte and Ramilla Souza
DRAMATURGIC COLLABORATION: Lillah Hallah
GENERAL ASSISTANT: Luiza Moreira Salles
ART DIRECTION, SET AND COSTUMES: Melina Schleder
LIGHTING: Paula Hemsi
VIDEO INSTALLATION AND EDITING: Laíza Dantas
SOUND DESIGN AND SOUND AND VIDEO TECHNICIAN: Lana Scott
LIGHTING TECHNICIAN: Maíra do Nascimento
VOCAL COACH: Flavia Maria
SCENIC INPUT: Kenia Dias and Maria Amélia Farah
AUDIOVISUAL CONCEPTION AND SCRIPT: Janaina Leite and Lillah Hallah
PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTION: Wilssa Esser
VIDEO PARTICIPATION: Alex Ferraz, Hisak, Jota, Kaka Boy, Mike and Samuray Farias
VISUAL IDENTITY, PROJECTIONS AND SOCIAL MEDIA: Juliana Piesco
PRESS: Frederico Paula – Nossa Senhora da Pauta
PHOTOS AND VIDEO RECORD: André Cherri
PRODUCTION AND CIRCULATION DIRECTOR: Carla Estefan
PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Metropolitana Gestão Cultural