The Gang

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Theatre

District: Setúbal > Palmela > Palmela > Trilho do Bando

Location

O Bando, located in the area of the Trilho do Bando (Bando's Trail), in Palmela, is situated in a unique setting within the municipality of the same name. Its facilities in Vale de Barris are integrated into the heart of the Arrábida Natural Park, nestled on the slopes of the Serra do Louro. This natural environment, which extends over a vast property, is dotted with olive trees and offers a pedestrian path that winds up to the top of the mountain, inviting close contact with the surrounding landscape.

A Theatre Company with Identity

O Bando is a Portuguese professional theatre company with a remarkable history since the 1970s. It distinguishes itself through its creative approach, known as singularism, which focuses on collective creation. This method aims to produce unexpected and original artistic works, where leadership manifests in the transpersonal dimension of the results, rather than in the repetition of a single style of performance. The company has a particular inclination for adapting non-dramatic texts to the stage, including novels, poems, and oral tradition narratives, thus valuing the richness of the Portuguese language.

The Scenic Space and Stage Machines

The company is renowned for the innovative way it uses scenic space. O Bando often seeks unconventional locations for its stagings, be it a hill, a square, or a monument, transforming them into stages. One of the most striking aspects of its work are the so-called stage machines. These devices are not mere backdrops or props, but objects that assume an almost character-like role, creating atmospheres, tensions, and emotions, even when immobile. Outside its headquarters, one can discover the exhibition "AO RELENTO" (OUT IN THE OPEN), where some of these remarkable stage machines are scattered across the hillside, integrated into the natural landscape of the farm, offering a unique perspective on O Bando's creative ingenuity.

Legacy and Presence in Palmela

Since the year 2000, Teatro o Bando has established its headquarters in Vale de Barris, Palmela, marking a significant stage in its itinerant history. This location, which once consisted of old agricultural facilities, was transformed to house offices, dressing rooms, workshops, and multiple stages, both indoor and outdoor, allowing the company to continue its production and training activities in a privileged context. Its lasting presence in the region contributes to the local cultural landscape, maintaining a collective working methodology and a strong connection to the community, as a public utility entity.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt