At dinner we meet Alvim Cossa.

A small digression on the Teatro do Oprimido, or the Theater of the Oppressed. It is a theatrical method which came to life in Brazil in the sixties with the aim to give a means of expression to all those who were in situations of oppression, especially workers and farmers.

One of the most common techniques of the theater of the oppressed is the direct involvement of the audience in the show. Involvement that can even change the ending of a performance in order to adapt it to the ongoing situation and to the place.

During dinner, at which Giulio Borgnolo of Eni is also present, Alvim tells us how the work is organized in his association: every show is born out of a group discussion, the theater of the oppressed must make us reflect and it deals with important and complex issues. It tries to make people aware of the use of condoms, it talks about AIDS, prostitution, violence, health. Both women and men take part in the various groups and they act mainly in Portuguese.

Alvin is serious and he speaks of his work with pride.

Tomorrow we are going to see them at work …

In the hotel, the first Portuguese lesson: goodnight, boa noite!