No palco e no chão da Vila Kennedy: O Teatro Faria Lima / Mário Lago como espaço de disputas políticas e culturais no território que circula entre o “não-oficial” e a favela

Abstract

The present work aims to analyze how the Mário Lago Theater can stage political, cultural and identity conflicts in Vila Kennedy, from two historic moments: the Foundation of the Theatre and the installation of the UPP (Pacifying Police Unit) in the territory. Opened in the period of the military dictatorship, the Theatre was built in a shed of the CEHAB (State housing Company) ceded by the then Governor, Faria Lima, given the claim of a group of residents. Although it was quite precarious to the expected standards for that kind of stage equipment, the Theater represented the opportunity to enter the Villa Kennedy, located in the West of the River, in the artistic and cultural circuit of the city. In comes the local representation through the equipment management by social actors belonging to public and Community institutions, which are divided into two polarities associative. The newspaper ―Jornal do Brazil‖ mark the claims between authentic representatives of the community and groups connected to the ARENA (National Renewal Alliance Party). From the installation of the UPP, changes have been taking place in the territory in general way, which is also reflected in the Theater Mário Lago. In this way, the projects breaks, conflicts, aggregations and agreements through the history of the Theatre and its social actors delimit a fruitful path for circulating between the arts, cultures, societies, politics and territory.