Between Revolutions, Oppressions, Exiles, and Returns: Rethinking Portuguese Independent Theatre and Its Transnational Networks

Abstract

Portuguese independent theatre emerged in the late 1960s, gaining significant creative momentum and active engagement in social and political struggles following the Portuguese Revolution of April 1974. This article examines how the emergence of this theatre was profoundly shaped by international experiences. These transnational connections, which began to take shape in the later years of the Estado Novo regime through exiles, the influence of Latin American directors, ties with former colonies, and the cautious openings allowed by institutions such as the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Goethe-Institut, disrupted the regime’s isolationist policies. Revisiting this history offers valuable insights in the contemporary era, marked by the resurgence of neo-nationalisms, underscoring the enduring importance of cross-border exchanges and collective cultural resistance.