À procura de Lem

This show is about Polish writer Stanislaw Lem (1921-2006) and his work. He is a well-known name in literature, published worldwide in popular collections and, at the same time, an author paradoxically unknown.
For example the attention that film industry devoted to his writing, we ascertain that, on the one hand, two major filmmakers Andrei Tarkovsky and Steven Soderbergh, adapted the novel "Solaris"; on the other hand, a number of movies, some of which, huge blockbusters – as "Matrix" by Les Wachowski or "eXistenZ" by David Cronenberg – were inspired by Lem's universe, reflections, conjectures and plots without ever mentioning his name.
The aim of this team gathered by Teatro do Ferro was to build a show to stir people's curiosity for Lem's legacy and the unrest his books generate.
Lem's work is extensive and explores, within science fiction, a wide range of philosophical and ethical questions – from the place of humanity in the universe to the despair of man defied by its own limitations, and the questioning about intelligence.

Within this wealth of issues, we selected subjects that because they are prevalent or timeless seem notorious, such as treason, paranoia, duplication and duplicity, and the profoundly dependent relationship between science and politics – a relationship that is not guided by a rigorous and explicit deontology.
In his books, Lem always works on the second degree, every single enunciate may be recanted some pages ahead in the book. So, instead of exploring the principle of lie intrinsic to language and to clarification, we chose to favour the awareness that, before or beyond verbal expression, emotions are dreadful instruments of manipulation.
As Lem and fortunately a huge number of thinkers, novelists, playwrights and poets did, we should exercise doubt as proof of our appreciation for life.
Saguenail e Regina Guimarães

Teatro do Ferro was created in 1999. Initially, it was created as a kind of label for Igor Gandra and Carla Veloso creations. Then the project evolved to become a professional company. The name of the company - the mention to Iron (ferro in Portuguese) infers the notion of primordial matter – resistant and mutable at the same time. This possibility of transformation is still inspiring for us.
The work developed by the company focuses on puppet-theatre and object-theatre. Our practice follows a logic in which the puppet has a matrix value, in all its possible hybridizations, both tried and tempting.
The relationship between the body-interpreter and the manipulated object, and the inference of each viewer in building this relationship, are lines of reflection intersected to the artistic practice of the TdF.
In TdF shows the spoken word must be on an equal foot vis-à-vis other forms of language and the company works mainly with Portuguese authors.
TdF has reached a heterogeneous audience. The unlikely partnerships, the search for alternative contexts to the usual circuits in the performing arts, intense traveling activity, the creation aimed at younger audiences and our cultural action projects are clear gestures – thus we affirm our plural desire to share.
Since 2003, Teatro do Ferro has been supported by Ministério da Cultura/ Direcção Geral das Artes.