Nelson Baskerville's Autobiographical Theater Piece 'A Vida' Explores Trauma and Memory

Directed by Nelson Baskerville, 'A Vida' showcases seven actors as they unveil their personal traumas. Baskerville shares his own experience of a childhood beating tied to his mother's passing during childbirth. The rehearsals took place at Casa do Povo in São Paulo's Bom Retiro. Among the cast, Felipe Schermann discusses his father's illness, Camila Rafantti reflects on childbirth, Nuno Carvalho addresses weight loss after separation, Hercules Morais confronts discrimination, and Tamirys Ohanna narrates the journey of a Black woman migrating from Cubatão to São Paulo. This autobiographical movement in Brazilian theater started in 2010. Baskerville previously delved into trauma with the 2011 Shell Award-winning play 'Luis Antonio – Gabriela.' 'A Vida' employs a modular format influenced by Schopenhauer, tackling political themes like women's oppression.