The play 'The Last Session of Freud' places the psychoanalyst in front of C.S. Lewis in a debate about religion
The play 'The Last Session of Freud' features a fictional debate between Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis on religion, currently staged in São Paulo.
'The Last Session of Freud' is a theatrical production currently running in São Paulo, simulating a conversation between the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud and the author C.S. Lewis. The play presents them as key figures in a discussion about religion, with Freud's atheism contrasting sharply with Lewis's recent conversion to Christianity. The event is located at Teatro Sabesp Frei Caneca and is part of its eighth season in the capital, attracting significant audience interest.
Directed by Elias Andreato, the Brazilian version of the play features performers Odilon Wagner as Freud and Marcello Airoldi as Lewis. Since its premiere in March 2022, the play has toured across 40 cities in Brazil, accumulating over 370 performances and attracting more than 170,000 viewers—an impressive achievement in the contemporary theatre scene. The production has also shown in various theaters within São Paulo, highlighting the play's popularity and resonance with local audiences.
Based on Armand Nicholi’s book 'God in Question', the space allows Shakespearean-style philosophical discourse exploring the contrasting beliefs and arguments of its main characters. This debate not only reflects on personal convictions but also engages broader dialogues about faith and reason, making it a relevant production in both Brazilian culture and the ongoing conversations about religion and atheism.