Born of Revolution: A Short History of Festival de Almada

Festival de Almada – which was established in the city of Almada, on the south bank of the River Tagus, in 1984 – is Portugal’s pre-eminent international theatre festival. Led by its founding director, the acclaimed theatre-maker Joaquim Benite, until his death in 2012, the showcase has been taken forward successfully by his successor Rodrigo Francisco. Famous for its friendly and welcoming atmosphere, its democratic ethos and its ambitious programming, the festival has attracted many of the greatest companies, directors, and actors in world theatre. In 2020, Festival de Almada was the first summer festival to proceed – under assiduously applied public health protocols – in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. In this article Mark Brown (who has attended most editions of the festival since 2008) provides a historical overview of the Almada showcase, highlighting particularly significant aspects of its ethos and programming, and offering critical insights into some notable productions.