The reopening of the Teatro Variedades, on October 5th, brought a new life to Parque Mayer by passing this emblematic space of the city with three open theatres – the Maria Vitória Theater, the Capitólio and the Variedades Theater.
From a cultural and artistic venue where the great successes of the magazine theatre passed in the last century, Parque Mayer has been losing popularity until today. The rehabilitation of the Capitólio building and, recently, of the Teatro Variedades have returned to Lisbon two of the most emblematic cultural spaces in Lisbon, creating the conditions for a new innovative, versatile and contemporary cultural pole.
In 2024, more than 60,000 people attended performances at the Teatro Variedades and the Capitólio. A balance of the past year and lifting the veil on the programming of 2025.
Both under the management of Lisbon Culture/ EGEAC and trained in new valences and requirements of the performing arts, the Teatro Variedades and the Capitólio presented in the year now ending an intense program, varied and open to different audiences.
The reopening party of Variedades gave the first sign of change, bringing to the two stages and the open space of Parque Mayer a lot of diversity: there was the presence of the pieces of Ricardo Neves-Neves, the fado of Pedro Jóia and José Manuel Neto, the DJ Nery, Mãe Dela, Huca and João Villas-Boas, the concerts of Tó Trips and the Transatlantic Express, the old unmissable songs of the theatre magazine, in a show curated by Dino D Santiago, the urban art interventions of LS and Mafalda MG and the performance/ ballet O Baile dos Candeeiros by the company O Baile dos Candeeiros
An exhibition of photographs by Lauro António was also presented, depicting the old days of Parque Mayer and projected classic films of Portuguese cinema. The Teatro Maria Vitória, a neighbour of more than one hundred years in Parque Mayer, also participated in the party and opened doors to the show magazine E Ninguém vai Preso?!.
The Teatro Variedades debuted with the shows of the Teatro do Eléctrico – Entraria Nesta Sala and The Swimming Pool Party -, the first evoking mythical names of Portuguese cinema, and the other recreating in a sophisticated way a crime “à Agatha Christie”, bringing together major names of the theatre: Sandra Faleiro, Sílvia Rizzo, Manuel Marques, Sissi Martins, Filipe Vargas, Ruben Madureira, among others. Followed a show by Rita Ribeiro: a monologue in which she interprets her own life and recalls her career of 50 years.
More recently, the Artistas Unidos, with the production of the work Vento Forte, returned to the Norwegian author Jon Fosse, Nobel Prize for Literature.
In the Capitólio passed mostly musical proposals. The bands Sétima Legião and Ena Pá 2000, the Brazilian musician and composer Arnaldo Antunes, Iolanda (winner of the RTP Song Festival), veteran Kim Gordon, the charismatic The Tallest Man on Earth, the concerts of Misty Fest, the Mérida International Theatre and also the concerts of Van Zee, Jonas, Janeiro, José Pinhal Post-Mortem Experience, and David Bruno. The terrace of the Capitólio offered an open-air cinema, animating summer evenings. These were just some of the proposals that brought to the Capitólio a very diverse and multigenerational audience, which has been showing its loyalty.
These productions brought in 2024 to the Teatro Variedades and the Capitólio more than 60,000 people.
2025: what’s coming
For the 2025 season, the Teatro Variedades and the Capitólio start with a diverse offer. In addition to hosting some productions of the National Theatre D. Maria II, are already confirmed the first edition of Liedfest – Festival da Canção Erudita, with artistic direction by soprano Catarina Molder, the musical Rent, a huge success on Broadway brought by Music Theatre Lisbon, the FIMFA – International Festival of Puppets and Animated Forms and the presentation of Vitorino’s latest album.
The beginning of the year brings two unique proposals, the performance show of young actress Sara Inês Gigante, Popular, and the return to the stages of the Parque Mayer of the unmissable António Calvário, Florbela Queiroz and Natalina José, with the special participation of Fátima Severino, that present a musical piece and revista.
In the Capitólio are already confirmed the presence of the band Airbourne, the Italian pianist Dardust, the tribute to Amy Winehouse, the shows of Ballet and Flamenco We Call It, the humour of King Kong Fran and the concerts of the Portuguese, Miguel Luz, João Só and Pedro Gonçalves, among many others…
With this program, the Teatro Variedades and the Capitólio promise to reinforce the theatrical and show scene of Lisbon, reaffirming the Parque Mayer as a diverse space free of prejudice.
Always confirm with the concert hall or promoter the conditions of access, confirmation of the date or time, ticket place of sale, price, and availability.
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