LU.CA turns 2! – Playlist and a Concert Story

June 1 is the best day of the year for us. It’s World Children’s Day, and it’s also the anniversary of LU.CA—Teatro Luís de Camões. A double celebration that would have taken on special meaning this year as we mark our second anniversary. But the fact that we’re (still) closed to the public is no reason not to celebrate. First thing in the morning on the 1st, before (online) school starts, we’re launching a playlist to celebrate from morning until night. Curated by DJ Bandido$, it’s a selection that will let kids and adults alike turn their “recess” at home into a moment of joy and freedom.

At 6 p.m., when classes have ended but dinner isn’t on the table yet, it’s time to watch “Don’t Be Fooled! — A Pamphlet Tale.” A story-concert that will be available on Facebook. Performed by Isabel Gaivão and Sérgio Pelágio of the Histórias Magnéticas project, this is also a moment of celebration for them as they mark the project’s tenth anniversary while blowing out the candles at LU.CA. Following the performance, there will be a conversation with the two of them, also on Facebook (facebook.com/lucateatroluisdecamoes) and via Zoom.

A story about a child who lived through Portugal’s transition from fascism to democracy and who, because of that, knows that there is nothing worse than living under a regime like the one of the past. This child, now 50 years old, realizes that the story of his or her anti-fascist family—like so many others—must not be forgotten and must be told to his or her children as an example of courage and unquestioning belief in Freedom, the fundamental value of life that is eternally threatened. A tribute to the generation of fathers and mothers born in the 1930s who, without seeking a place in history or political or any other kind of prominence, never gave up; they risked their lives, endured imprisonment, went into exile, and were persecuted so that today we can live in a better country.

Sérgio Pelágio and Isabel Gaivão