Religion in an artistic format
In the following article you will discover how the Gólgota Group organizes the Santa Maria da Feira Holy Week yearly since 1998, while developing several theatrical projects meant to evangelize and convey human values.
The Gólgota Group was created in 1991, by the Passionist Father João Bezerra, to recreate the Via Crucis in Santa Maria da Feira. In 1998, the project “Holy Week” was born, in which the recreation of the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem – the “human city” was presented in addition to the previous. Since then, Gólgota has been organizing the Holy Week yearly, while developing several theatrical projects meant to evangelize and convey human values.
As an association, it was born in 2002, and is currently made up of 170 members of all ages. Many people see it as a unifying element, in which theatre is central. The dynamism of the activities it carries out aims to enhance theatre as a practice, in demanding performances of high quality that reinforce the role and position of the association, also as a training ground for new actors. The participation in local events such as Viagem Medieval (a medieval fair in Santa Maria da Feira) also helps in this dissemination effort.
César Costa is 36 years old, has a master’s degree in Theology, a degree in History and is currently taking a PhD in the same area, specializing in Medieval History. He has some training in performing arts and acting techniques. He’s also a priest.
César was born in Santa Maria da Feira and soon got involved in the representations of the group, eventually taking responsibility for the Holy Week in 2010. In 2013 he was appointed president of the General Assembly, becoming the successor of the group’s founder, and in that same year added the Last Supper, Gethsemane and Sanhedrin’s recreation to the group’s repertoire. The following year, in a restructuration of the association, he was appointed president of the board, a position he currently holds.
The “Holy Week” project unites the ecclesiastical and civil communities through the excellence of an historical recreation of unique moments, charged with emotion and spirituality, of the final days of Christ’s earthly life, while enhancing the beauty and richness of the liturgical celebrations that carry with them tradition and solemnity.
The entire city is used as a stage for Biblical episodes, leading the public to experience these special moments in the history of Christianity, combining the religious, cultural, and social components, which has made it a national reference for the most important celebrations in the Christian calendar.
Currently, Gólgota Group has several ongoing projects that include various public presentations, the premiere of a new play, theatrical trainings and the official inauguration of its headquarters.
With Tom Smith’s “Drinking Habits” on stage, they have a full agenda, which also includes a homonymous yearly Theatre Festival to be held in November. Before that, in September, Diego Fabbri’s “The Process of Jesus” will premiere at the António Lamoso theater, and a set of training opportunities are open for members and non-members.
As a final message to young artists, César points out:
Contacts:
Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/grupogolgota/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/grupogolgota
E-mail: grupogolgota@gmail.com
