Judith Malina's Diaries Chronicle Living Theatre's Brazil Imprisonment
'The Diaries of Judith Malina: 1969-1971' (Northwestern University Press, 2026) delves into Brazilian theater during the period of the AI-5 decree under military rule. Judith Malina, who co-founded The Living Theatre, chronicled the company’s trip to Brazil in 1970, following an invitation from Zé Celso Martinez Corrêa and Renato Borghi after their February 9 meeting in Paris. They landed in Brazil on July 25, 1970, but were arrested on July 1, 1971, for allegedly having marijuana planted on them. They remained imprisoned until September 4, 1971, when they were freed due to international advocacy from notable figures like Jean-Paul Sartre. Edited by Kate Bredeson, the 304-page diaries capture Malina’s interactions with cultural icons and her personal reflections. Malina passed away on April 10, 2015.
Key facts
- The Diaries of Judith Malina: 1969-1971 was published by Northwestern University Press in 2026.
- Judith Malina and Julian Beck met Zé Celso Martinez Corrêa and Renato Borghi in Paris on February 9, 1970.
- The Living Theatre arrived in Brazil on July 25, 1970.
- The company was arrested in Ouro Preto on July 1, 1971, on drug charges.
- They were imprisoned until September 4, 1971.
- Jean-Paul Sartre and Marshall McLuhan sent telegrams to Brazilian dictator Emílio Garrastazu Médici for their release.
- Ruth Escobar led the campaign for their freedom.
- Judith Malina died on April 10, 2015.
- The book includes photographs by Juvenal Pereira.
- Malina wrote about meeting Jean Genet in São Paulo during his play 'The Balcony'.
Entities
Artists
- Judith Malina
- Julian Beck
- Zé Celso Martinez Corrêa
- Renato Borghi
- Jean Genet
- Glauber Rocha
- Raul Cortez
- Walmor Chagas
- Sábato Magaldi
- Sérgio Mamberti
- Antonio Pedro
- Oswaldo Mendes
- Marilena Ansaldi
- Lina Bo Bardi
- Victor Garcia
- Osvaldo De la Vega
- Suzana de Moraes
- Vinicius de Moraes
- Nilda Maria
- Carlos Lamarca
- Roberto Carlos
- Chico Buarque
- Euclides da Cunha
- Frederick Jacob Kiesler
- Barry Sonnenfeld
- Kate Bredeson
- Juvenal Pereira
- Jean-Paul Sartre
- Marshall McLuhan
- Emílio Garrastazu Médici
- Ruth Escobar
Institutions
- The Living Theatre
- La MaMa
- Teatro Oficina
- Teatro Ruth Escobar
- DOPS
- Comando de Caça aos Comunistas
- Northwestern University Press
- ARTE!Brasileiros
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Brazil
- São Paulo
- Ouro Preto
- Minas Gerais
- Belo Horizonte
- Kiel
- Germany
- United States
- Mexico