Artists and residents of Petrópolis gathered to advocate for the reopening of Theatro Dom Pedro, emphasizing its cultural importance to the community.
On October 10, artists, cultural producers, and residents of Petrópolis, located in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro, participated in a demonstration in front of Theatro Dom Pedro, voicing their demands for the cultural venue's reopening. The event was marked by the slogan "The Theater is Ours!" and aimed to push for transparency regarding the theater's renovation plans and to establish a timeline for the project's completion.
According to actress and cultural producer Iara Rocha, the theater's closure, which has lasted for approximately seven years, has severely hindered local artistic production. She highlighted that both theater and dance groups have lost a vital space for rehearsals, performances, and research, which has deprived the people of Petrópolis of their cultural rights and opportunities to engage with the arts.
Theatro Dom Pedro, inaugurated in 1933, is regarded as one of the region's key cultural institutions. The ongoing closure has greater implications for the local cultural landscape, diminishing access to arts and entertainment for residents, and raising concerns about the future of community engagement with cultural initiatives in Petrópolis.
