With 22 years’ experience in the field, I have thus far developed my activity in Portugal, mainly in the small town of Montemor-o-Novo, but well integrated with the artistic scene of Portugal and Europe. In Montemor-o-Novo, I lead cultural association Alma d’Arame, which has been dedicated to theatre for over 12 years. There, I work together with other cultural entities, with the city and with schools to create plays around issues such as empowerment, accessibility and inclusion, often inviting other artists to join me. Alma d’Arame has received continuous funding from the Portuguese Government since 2013 to develop its yearly cultural programmes and projects. It was also funded by EEA Grants from 2014 to 2016 within the scope of the Cultural Footprint project, which brought together cultural associations and schools. Once a year, I organise an international puppet festival in Montemor-o-Novo, and am also the event’s artistic director. The thirteenth edition of the festival is set to be held in 2020.

My approach to puppetry is not a traditional one, although I did start with this language. Currently, my plays are mainly for an adult audience and my concept is experimental, based on world literature, seeking new languages in a common space; a sort of laboratory for new forms of expression, manipulating not only puppets and objects but also light, sound and movement. The narrative goes beyond the spoken word – the visual, the shape and the content have an equally strong presence. Often in the absence of words, the message becomes universal.