The Orient present in the theater of Antunes Filho:
contributions of eastern mysticism to the performer's art at the TRC
Antunes Filho. Orient. Cultivation. Acting. Theatrical Exercises.
The main feature of this research is to investigate how
the principles and concepts of oriental mysticism – especially Zen Buddhism and Taoism –
were taken by director Antunes Filho in the construction of his pedagogical method and also to
analyze how these references contributed, in a theoretical and practical way, for the training
of actors at the Theater Research Center (TRC) located at the Sesc Consolação unit in São
Paulo. In this discussion, we will detail some exercises created by Antunes Filho and examine
three plays directed by him: Peer Gynt (1971), A hora e vez de Augusto Matraga (1986) and Paraíso Zona Norte (1989). In addition, the concept of “cultivation” formulated by theJapanese philosopher Yasuo Yuasa will be brought to light when we will propose a correlation between his ideas and the artistic vision and theatrical processes of the Brazilian director.