ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book demonstrates the commitment of the artists and the functionality of their works in society. It illustrates only a small part of a large universe of artistic and cultural practices of resistance within a dying democracy. The book investigates processes adopted by facilitators in two performances: the first addressed the teen universe, bringing important issues of this time of life and relationships with parents, the school, social networks and sexual identity to the scene. The second section, “Complain in the boca” (a reference to drug selling points), talks about the life of the youth of the Favela da Maré, where the project takes place and where its participants live in a context of military occupation. Theatre praxis reveals the intentionality and commitment of artists to engage performance in addressing social issues and the quality of performance to serve diverse purposes.
