The director of the Galician Agency for Cultural Industries, Jacobo Sutil, attended the premiere of Auto da Barca do Inferno at the São João Theatre in Porto, directed by Galician creator Marta Pazos. This production, a collaboration between the Centro Dramático Galego and the National Theatre São João, marks the beginning of a new phase of partnership between the two public institutions, which have previously worked together on projects such as Manuela Rey Is In Da House and Frágua de amor.
The staging is part of a cooperation agreement signed on 17 April by José López Campos, the Galician Minister of Culture, Language and Youth, and Pedro Sobrado, the president of the board of the Portuguese theatre. This agreement establishes a stable framework for collaboration over four years, aimed at promoting projects in creation, production, and theatrical exhibition, as well as initiatives for training, mediation, and professional exchange.
Through this alliance, the Xunta seeks to strengthen cultural ties between Galicia and Northern Portugal and enhance the international visibility of Galician performing arts. The cooperation includes the circulation of performances, reciprocal programming, and the exchange of knowledge and technical resources.
The production
Marta Pazos is responsible for the stage direction and dramaturgy of this reinterpretation of the classic work by Gil Vicente, written in 1517. The production blends theatre, dance, and visual arts in a vibrant and colourful reading that recaptures the popular essence of the piece. It features choreography by Victor Hugo Pontes, set design by F. Ribeiro, costumes by Agustín Petronio, and musical composition and sound design by Hugo Torres, with a cast of twelve performers.
Auto da Barca do Inferno will run at the São João Theatre until 13 December. The performance, presented in Portuguese with English subtitles and lasting approximately 90 minutes, includes audio description and interpretation in Portuguese sign language. The show is set to be performed in Galicia at the Auditorium of Galicia in Santiago de Compostela on 16 and 17 January 2027.
