Look what we have found ‘Behind Happiness’!

In creating ‘Atrás da Felicidade’ (Behind Happiness), we encountered anguish, but also a lot of joy. Despite some pains, there were always songs to overcome them. In the midst of doubts, they gave us the strength to bite them. And to the stigmata, we added a pinch of poetry.

 

Now that we’re back home, all we can do is say thank you and emphasise that all this would have been impossible without…

 

all the people who made themselves available to give us testimonies about their relationship with rheumatic diseases, from which the show was built;

 

the sublime performances by Beatriz Boleto, Carolina Costa Andrade and Inês Dias; the marvellous text, created by the three performers, director Mário Montenegro and Maria José Pessoa;

 

Laetitia Morais‘ mesmerising videos and Marcelo dos Reis’ powerful music; Pedro Andrade’s masterfully designed scenography and imagery; the costumes by the talented Cláudia Ribeiro and Carlos Gago’s perfect hairstyles; Danilo Pinto’s invaluable technical direction and lighting; Jéssica Ferreira and Joana Sousa’s LGP interpretation, along with Catarina Sobral’s audio description, supported by Emanuel Rodrigues.

 

[and behind the scenes] production direction and photography by Francisca Moreira; executive production by Silvia Carballo and Vicente Paredes; communication by Carolina Costa Andrade and Ricardo Jerónimo; promotional video by Tiago Cerveira and video recording by João Cunha.

 

Almost getting to the end, two very special words:
one to all the people linked to the ULS Coimbra / FMUC Rheumatology Service and the Coimbra Rheumatology Association, fundamental institutions in this journey, for their encouragement, availability and support; and the other to the entire A Escola da Noite team who, once again, welcomed us with open arms at the Teatro da Cerca de São Bernardo, co-producer of this show.

 

Finally, we would like to express our gratitude to all the institutions and people who decisively contributed to the realisation of ‘Behind Happiness’:

 

To Teatro Académico de Gil Vicente and Teatrão, for the loan of essential material for the video projection and the session with audio description;

 

To these partner organisations, both regular and one-off, who gave us very important support: República Portuguesa – Cultura / Direção-Geral das Artes, Coimbra City Council, EULAR – European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology, SPR – Sociedade Portuguesa de Reumatologia, Liga Portuguesa Contra as Doenças Reumáticas, APPSREUMA – Associação Portuguesa de Profissionais de Saúde em Reumatologia, MAFIA – Federação Cultural de Coimbra, Ilídio Design Cabeleireiros, Rádio Universidade de Coimbra, Antena 2, Hotel Oslo;

 

And to these people we extend our heartfelt thanks: Alexandre Carvalho, Ana Rita Correia de Matos, Anabela Silva, Cátia Duarte, Diana Carvalho, Fernanda Sousa, Georgina Pimentel, Gisela Figueiredo, Guilhermina Carvalho, José António Pereira da Silva, Larry Ibarra, Lucinda Minas, Luísa Santiago, Lurdes Acurcio, Maria José Pessoa, Maurício Lopes, Micael Silva, Tânia Santiago, Umbelina Santos.