Gisberta was a Brazilian travesti who was brutally murdered by 15 Portuguese teenagers in the city of Porto in 2006. She has become a symbol of travesti migrant resistance in Portugal. TransParadise was the winner of the Portuguese government’s grant, awarded by DGArtes, worth 25,000 euros, to present in 2024 the performance that narrates what resonates from Gisberta’s life throughout the LGBTQIAPN+ community.
“Gisberta: the cry of all of us” is a play that combines performing arts and circus to honour the memory of Gisberta Salce and all the travestis exterminated from the face of the earth. The performance addresses the liberation of travesti bodies from oppression and society’s spectacle, bringing to light the reality of the violence and annihilation they still face. The play is written, directed, and performed by travestis, giving voice to their own narrative.
“Gisberta: the cry of all of us”, starring trans individuals and written, directed, and produced by trans people, offers a unique and important perspective in the national artistic scene, enriching the country’s cultural diversity. The high quality of the production — which includes talented artists and technicians — helps to raise the overall standard of artistic offerings in the territory. The play addresses relevant and current themes in an innovative way through artistic research and experimentation, providing the audience with a unique opportunity to learn about and understand the reality of the trans community.
The production also values the importance of artistic research and experimentation as means for development and knowledge. The play conveys an important message about the reality of trans people and their social integration. The inclusion of trans artists and technicians in the creative process is an important way to promote social accessibility, allowing these professionals to showcase their talents and be valued.
The project and the dramaturgy were crafted by TransParadise’s founders, Keyla Brasil and Freda Paranhos, with Keyla taking on the role of director for the performance and Freda overseeing the production direction.