This project was originally conceived as a live performance that would open other shows. It was meant to be an opening act: a performance in which a less frequently programmed artist – Plataforma285 – would open for a more established artist. It was meant to be a major opportunity, the perfect showcase, a networking event played out on stage. A performance/concert/elevator pitch, taking up the stage before the main act.
For reasons beyond the company's control, this recording for the national TV will be the performance that might have been. The live performance will only premiere in 2027.
Opening Act had its first outing in July 2026, when Plataforma285, together with the audience, carried an object by hand all the way from Belém (Praça do Império) to Rua Poço dos Negros. The object was then placed on display in the shop window of Cão Solteiro Residências. 120, accompanied by the following text:
A commitment without a framework
is a stone in one's shoe.
But the shoe is made of crystal
and the one who made the commitment
is now walking barefoot.
I deeply regret this,
but feet and shoes
have a way of doing these things.
CREDITS
Production Plataforma285/ Creation, Performance and Direction Cecília Henriques/ Performance, Co-creation and Choreographic Direction Aurora Pinho/ Performance Sara Jerónimo/ Co-creation Raimundo Cosme/ Set Design Consultancy Bruno José Silva/ Set Construction Cláudio Sousa/ Co-creation and Sound Design Filipe Sambado/ Costume Design Inês Ariana/ Seamstress Miu Lapin/ Production Management Raquel Bravo/ Executive Production Mariana Sá Marques/ Technical Direction Sérgio Joaquim/ Communications Direction Beatriz Vasconcelos/ Photography Joanna Correia / manaamana/ Video Recording Margarida Sá Marques
Co-production RTP/ Support HIT Management, Câmara Municipal de Pombal, Casa Varela/ Artistic Residencies O Espaço do Tempo, Cão Solteiro.Residências 120/ Project Funded by Sociedade Portuguesa de Autores
SYNOPSIS OF PART ONE
This was a protest. An action, an endurance test, a journey undertaken together – and we needed everyone.
Along a route from Belém to Rua Poço dos Negros (where the company's office is located), a group of people – anyone who wished to join us – carried an object by hand. Every pair of hands was needed and welcomed. You were invited to take part, to get involved, because this was not just about us. It was about all of us.
PROJECT SCHEDULE
Artistic Residencies: April 2026, O Espaço do Tempo (Montemor-o-Novo); June 2025, Cão Solteiro.Residências120 (Lisbon);
Performances: July 1, 2026, route between Belém and Cão Solteiro.Residências120 (Lisbon); July 1–5, shop window of Cão Solteiro.Residências120 (Lisbon)
