Summary:
Mónica Calle faces challenges in presenting her new show due to lack of space.
The Casa Conveniente has been waiting for renovations promised by the Lisbon City Council since 2020.
The venue has fallen into disrepair, limiting the company to a small storage corridor.
Despite setbacks, the company continues to engage with the community through performances.
Upcoming performances of “As mulheres que não veremos duas vezes” span from December 2 to January 24, 2025.
Mónica Calle's Dilemma
Mónica Calle, a prominent actress and director, is set to present her new show, “As mulheres que não veremos duas vezes”, in various venues across Lisbon due to the ongoing lack of a permanent space for her company, Casa Conveniente. The show will feature 11 performances across ZDB 8 Marvila, Drama Bar, and CAL — Centro de Artes de Lisboa, concluding in January 2025.
The Wait for Promised Renovations
The Casa Conveniente, founded by Calle in 1992, has been waiting for promised renovations by the Lisbon City Council since 2020-2021. Unfortunately, following the municipal elections in September 2021, progress on these plans has ground to a halt, leaving the venue in disrepair with no windows or doors, now merely a small corridor used as storage.
A History of Displacement
Calle's struggle for a fixed workspace has been ongoing. After leaving her previous location in Cais do Sodré due to rising real estate pressures, she moved to Zona J de Chelas where she was granted a 100 square meter space. However, since its closure in 2020, the venue has been reduced to a state of neglect, with the city council's earlier commitments unfulfilled.
Community Engagement Continues
Despite these challenges, Casa Conveniente has continued to create performances and engage with the community, including works like “Este escuro que te ilumina” and “Este é o meu corpo”. Calle has expressed frustration, stating she has been waiting for the city council to resume the renovation process since February, but without any concrete results.
Upcoming Performances
The performances of “As mulheres que não veremos duas vezes” will take place as follows:
- ZDB 8 Marvila: December 2-5
- Drama Bar: December 9-12
- CAL: January 22-24, 2025 All shows begin at 7 PM.
A Broader Context
In parallel, the theater company Artistas Unidos, which was evicted from Teatro da Politécnica, is also awaiting a solution from the city council to continue their two-decade-long regular programming. Currently, they are showcasing “Vento Forte” at Teatro Variedades, a venue managed by the city's cultural management company, EGEAC.
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