Empower through Theatre
Camilo Silva is the director and founder of PIF’H (Produções Ilimitadas Fora d’Horas), a non-profit community theatre based in Braga, in the north of Portugal. Through his company’s work, Camilo has developed many educational community projects across the city. The non-formal artistic practices of PIF’H include theatrical processes, which take various forms: from performances, shows and events to presentations of the methodology of intervention and the socio-educational approach to theatre.
PIF’H theatre empowers communities at risk of social exclusion, acts in the defence of their rights and encourages civic participation. Most of all, it aims to create social awareness and offer tools for disadvantaged communities to transform their reality, namely to help migrants learn about the socio-cultural communication.
Camilo feels passionate about the work he develops every day and the role PIF’H has earned in his community. Projects, such as “Ó balha-me Deus!” and NATAL PIF’H — FestivArte D’ Alegria bring joy to foster children and teens, disabled people and offer workshops to teach skills through drama. Age is not an issue, and Camilo still actively takes part in these projects, as an actor and theatre director.
“When talking about territory and culture, we are implicitly talking about community. We provide a welcoming space aimed at promoting the active participation of those who are generally excluded, a safe space for their own social and cultural development and the development of the community.”
PIF’H created several successful initiatives that include all the members of the community. The theatre is a safe space that strongly supports integration of multicultural groups in society, by giving value to the creative potential of people, particularly the marginalised. Camilo takes great pride in the evolution of the company into an educative and inclusive space:
“Community theatre is one of the few things that people from all paths of life can participate in and be equal, regardless of their background”.
URB_ART spoke to Camilo Silva, a passionate actor, staging director and director of PIF’H–Produções Ilimitadas Fora d’Horas (www.fb.com/producoesilimitadasforadhoras) a community theatre association in Braga that develops workshops and activities for integration of marginalised individuals.
Links: Facebook