Eu Brinco [I Play]: report on a theatre performance for and with babies in Portugal

Abstract

This paper presents data drawn from research carried out in collaboration with the Teatro do Biombo, a theatre company that creates performances for early childhood, based in Lisbon, Portugal. The main objective of this study is to develop and analyze interactive theatre performances for babies and children under the age of three. This work begins by providing a brief overview of the place for children aged zero to three in early childhood education and in theatre for young audiences in Portugal. We will then continue by presenting the creative process of “Eu brinco,” a theatre performance for and with babies, developed through different perspectives and expertise: from the Teatro do Biombo actors to its director, and from the researcher to the babies and the children under the age of three. This work will also present preliminary data on the infants’ participation in the “Eu brinco” performance, as well as on the study’s impact on the work of the Teatro do Biombo theatre company. We will conclude by considering the potential contributions of this research on both the work of this theatre company and, more broadly, on Portuguese theatrical practice both for and with babies and young children to successfully take into account their voice and participation.