The publication, part of the Baltazar Dias Collection, features three dramatic plays — 'Livrai-nos da Peste!', 'Livrai-nos da Guerra!', and 'Livrai-nos da Fome!' — staged by the company AGON at TMBD between 2022 and 2026. The event will be attended by the author, Sara Maia, co-founder of the company, and the President of the Funchal Municipal Council. Admission is free.
Inspired by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the trilogy connects different historical periods with contemporary issues, using Madeira as its narrative backdrop. 'Livrai-nos da Peste!', premiered in April 2022, draws a parallel between the Bubonic Plague on the island in 1521 and the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, exploring human relationships in the face of illness and fear.
In 2024, 'Livrai-nos da Guerra!' linked the reception of Gibraltarian refugees in Madeira during World War II, in 1940, with the arrival of Ukrainian refugees in the Region in 2023. The journey culminates in 2026 with 'Livrai-nos da Fome!', which addresses hunger in both literal and metaphorical dimensions through 21 satirical sketches inspired by Madeiran gastronomy.
The book launch coincides with the presentation of the trilogy's final play, marking the conclusion of a four-year artistic project. The publication is part of the Baltazar Dias Collection, an initiative by the Funchal Municipal Council to promote Madeiran playwrights, both classic and contemporary.
Filipe Gouveia, a native of Funchal (born in 1996), began his artistic career in local theatre groups, trained at ESMAE in Porto, and co-founded the company AGON with Sara Maia in 2021, focusing on the intersection of theatre, dance, and music.
