Nós do Morro was founded by a group of friends in 1986, based on the dream of a journalist called Guti Fraga, who wanted to create a cultural movement, using the artistic talent of young residents of Vidigal. The proposal was simple but original: they would develop actors, technicians and audience, presenting all the magic of theatre to the inhabitants of that community who did not have access to art. Everything was made inside the community and, specially, for it. Fred Pinheiro, Fernando Mello da Costa and Luiz Paulo Corrêa e Castro joined Guti to create the basis of this pioneer project and open the doors of art to the people of Vidigal. From 1990 on, Zezé Silva contributed with her energy and became one of the directors of the project.

With an intense production of plays and audiovisual productions, developed over  the last 20 years of its existence, Nós do Morro has achieved significant public recognition, being awarded several prizes such as Prêmio  Shell de Teatro, Prêmio Coca-Cola de Teatro Jovem, Prêmio Orgulho Carioca  (awarded by the City Government of Rio de Janeiro), Honorable Mention from the United Nations, Carioca Merit of Human Rights from the Municipal Secretary of Social Assistance of Rio. In addition, a lot of members of the Group have good reputation in the cultural area, performing relevant roles in the theater, as well as on television and cinema.
Nowadays, the dream has come true proving that life is better when it is lived with art. Nós do Morro now has a theatre with capacity for 80 seats located in the back premises of Almirante Tamandaré Municipal School and also a Cultural Center, settled at the top of Vidigal, where the pedagogical and administrative structures of the company operate.

20 Years of History

1986/1991 – Nós do Morro started in the Community Center run by an Austro-German priest called Hubert Leeb. There, the Group produced its first plays, among them “ Encontros” by Luis Paulo Corrêa e Castro and Tino Costa, “Torturas de um Coração” by Ariano Suassuna, “Os dois ou o Inglês Maquinista” by Martins Pena, “Biroska” by Luis Paulo Corrêa e Castro and “Hoje é dia de Rock” by José Vicente.

1991/2001 – During this time, the Group managed to establish itself in the back premises of Almirante Tamandaré Municipal School, where they featured “Show das Sete”, a talk show open for the community to present their artistic talents. During this time, the members of the Group built the Vidigal Theater with their own resources and the support of local small business and residents. With the inauguration of the theater and the start of the play “Machadiando – three stories by Machado de Assis” a new era began for Nós do Morro. The Group achieved the public recognition and was awarded prizes for the relevance of its work.