SONHA PRETA

The work was developed as a space for reflection and mutual care in the face of a shocking event and deep collective grief.

The artists of the CTO-Rio collective Madalena Anastácia decided that the story must be told from the perspective of Black mothers. These mothers are at the center of the narrative and initiate a dialogue focused on proposals, in which the audience is not merely treated as consumers of a work of art but is also invited to take responsibility for reflection and the search for alternatives.

Founded in Rio de Janeiro in 2015, the Coletivo Madalena Anastácia uses artistic creation and the Teatro das Oprimidas to examine forms of oppression affecting Black women. Led by Bárbara Santos and composed exclusively of Black women, the collective is part of the Ma(g)dalena International Network and is affiliated with the Centro de Teatro do Oprimido.

The collective has presented its work nationally and internationally, including in Argentina, Nicaragua, Germany, the United States, Peru, and Guinea-Bissau. Its repertoire includes “Consciência do cabelo aos pés” (2015), “Nega ou Negra?” (2016), “Qual é o seu lugar?” (2019), and “Sonha Preta” (2025), as well as the performances “Suspeita” and “Ancestrais.” The collective was awarded the Luísa Mahin Prize in 2023 and the Heloneida Studart Cultural Diploma in 2025, and in 2024 it conducted artistic activities in public schools as part of the City of Rio de Janeiro’s “Ações Locais” program.