A Bolha Theatre – Imagination Has No Age

"We Are, by Nature, Storytellers and Tale-Tellers."

Our ability—and need—to tell stories has accompanied us throughout our evolution as humanity. I dare to say that stories have driven us to develop consciousness and become who we are today: a collection of memories, experiences, expectations, illusions and disillusions, dreams, and transformations. Human.

When I began working in the artistic field and facilitating literary dynamics, I realized that life stories were an infinite well of potential artistic creations—but not only that. Above all, recognizing the depth of a life and embracing it through listening and empathy is, in itself, a therapeutic act. For both the storyteller and the listener. It is a bridge between two hearts, between two minds. The lessons we learn from others' experiences are crucial to our own resilience throughout life. Once again, stories serve as guiding stars that can either expand—or limit—the paths we choose.

In this project I started with Vida Maior’s clients, the goal was to collect legends of the mouras encantadas (enchanted Moorish women) to develop a miniature puppet theater piece, an intimate format known as Teatro Lambe-Lambe. The first stage involved retrieving old memories associated with these legends. Throughout several sessions, we explored different artistic and storytelling techniques that helped us decipher blurred memories and uncover oral tradition stories—those passed down around the fire, recounting mysteries and inexplicable events beyond logical explanation.

This process has been enriching for both sides—for me and for those who accepted my challenge. Despite psychomotor difficulties (we developed characters through clay modeling and drawing) and the challenge of accessing older memories, we managed to create an original story inspired by the identity of the mouras encantadas from the past, bringing them into the present and giving them new life.

The most rewarding aspect has been witnessing the participants' enthusiasm and engagement throughout the process. Not only because they are able to recall stories and fragments from the past, but also because they are surprised by their own ability to create something new and original. By becoming active participants in the project, they recognize themselves as creative agents rather than mere spectators. At this stage, we are developing the set elements, and I know that, in the end, the real magic will not only be in the legends recovered from memories weakened by time but also in the discovery that imagination has no age.

Salomé Abreu

A Bolha – Puppet Theater