São Paulo’s Companhia do Latão presents free season at Teatro Vianinha, in Rio, with the plays “Experimento H” and “Losango Cáqui” in January and February 2026.
Recognized as one of Brazil’s leading theatre groups, Companhia do Latão, from São Paulo, brings two acclaimed productions to Rio de Janeiro in early 2026. The company occupies Teatro Vianinha, at Armazém da Utopia, in the port area, as part of the Circulação Petrobras program within the project Em Boa Companhia, created by Companhia Ensaio Aberto and supported by the Ministry of Culture.
From 8 January, the group stages “Experimento H”, which runs until 1 February, from Thursday to Sunday, always at 7 p.m. In February, “Losango Cáqui” takes over the venue, with four performances from 4 to 7 February, Wednesday to Saturday, also at 7 p.m. All sessions are free, with tickets available through Sympla and special booking for groups.
Experimento H: work, escape and women on stage
Opening the season, “Experimento H” features actress Helena Albergaria playing both Marilyn Monroe and house cleaner Mary Sanches. The piece, inspired by short stories by Truman Capote, follows the parallel journeys of these women and explores the tension between work, art and everyday life, starting from their encounter at the wake of an acting teacher.
The play depicts a day in the lives of two unconventional women: Mary Sanches, a cleaner in New York, and Marilyn Monroe, a movie star, both under intense work pressure. The differences in their gestures, attitudes and ways of dealing with daily routines form the core of the dramaturgy, which connects intimate stories and broader social processes.
On stage, Helena Albergaria sings, dances and brings out subtle details of fiction and biography. Writer Truman Capote appears at different ages, played by Kiko do Valle and Carlos Albergaria, who narrate and dramatize the scenes of the encounter. The live soundtrack, on guitar and acoustic guitar, is performed by musician Cau Karam. The stage script is written by Sérgio de Carvalho and Helena Albergaria, with sets and costumes by Simone Mina.
Premiered in São Paulo in 2018, “Experimento H” has already toured Cuba, with performances in Havana and Camagüey, where it received the El Gallo de La Habana award from Casa de las Américas, in recognition of its contribution to Latin American theatre. The production also had a recent season at Teatro de Arena, in São Paulo, in 2024.
The two women in “Experimento H” live in different times and worlds, yet both respond to work pressure with symbolic and concrete gestures rooted in faith, imagination, open confrontation and a strong drive for life. Their images are also filtered through the gaze of a writer who tries to understand himself beyond the limits of literature, in a lyrical, hybrid dramaturgy.
“It is a feminist play, in which strong women try not to conform to the roles imposed by the social game. Despite the word ‘experiment’ in the title, the staging deals with life stories in a very concrete and moving way. It draws on the short stories ‘A Day’s Work’ and ‘A Beautiful Child’, by Truman Capote, and recreates on stage what the text only suggests,” says Helena Albergaria.
Losango Cáqui: military affections and poetry
In February, the spotlight turns to “Losango Cáqui”, which opens on 4 February and runs with four performances, from Wednesday to Saturday, at 7 p.m. The production is a poetic, choreographic staging based on the book of poems of the same name by Mário de Andrade, described by the author as a “three-month diary” of sensations, ideas, hallucinations and playful notes.
The texts refer to the period when Mário de Andrade served in the army, recalled for military manoeuvres in 1922. On stage, the routine drills of the barracks during a time of political unrest in Brazil are contrasted with his passions, loves and “military affections”, creating a fragmented yet emotionally charged portrait.
Originally created to celebrate the writer’s 130th birthday, the show had only three performances before arriving in Rio. With nine performers on stage, the collective staging weaves together choreography, lyrical delivery and love stories, accompanied by live piano music performed by Lincoln Antonio.
“Losango Cáqui” was chosen to close Companhia do Latão’s participation in the Em Boa Companhia project because of its experimental, poetic and inventive approach, which resonates with “Experimento H”. Both productions embrace a dancing, musical theatre that celebrates life and remains hopeful about change.
Companhia do Latão and Mário de Andrade
The relationship between Companhia do Latão and the work of Mário de Andrade has been central to the group’s artistic research from its early years. Among the highlights is the exploration of the opera “Café”, staged by Sérgio de Carvalho in 2022 at Theatro Municipal de São Paulo with artists from Latão, revisiting the modernist writer’s ideas on art, politics and Brazilian identity.
In October 2023, invited by Biblioteca Municipal Mário de Andrade, the company created the series “Noites de Mário”, with new stagings based on theatrical texts and writings by the author. The cycle featured plays, staged readings and experimental pieces involving more than 30 artists and sold-out sessions. From this set, “Losango Cáqui” emerged as an autonomous production and returned to the stage in 2025, before joining the Rio season.
Crew – Experimento H
Cast: Helena Albergaria, Kiko do Valle, Carlos Albergaria
Music: Cau Karam
Concept: Helena Albergaria
Direction: Sérgio de Carvalho
Assistant director: Maria Lívia Goes
Costumes and set design: Simone Mina
Lighting: Silviane Ticher
Production: Corpo Rastreado
Local production (Rio de Janeiro): Companhia Ensaio Aberto
Synopsis: “Experimento H”, by Companhia do Latão, tells stories of work and escape from work in the lives of two uncommon women, cleaner Mary Sanches and movie star Marilyn Monroe, and their connection with writer Truman Capote.
Service – Experimento H
Experimento H – Companhia do Latão
Opening: Thursday, 8 January 2026
Venue: Teatro Vianinha, Armazém da Utopia, Armazém 6 do Cais do Porto, s/n – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Capacity: 100 seats
Schedule: Thursday to Sunday, 7 p.m.
Season: 8 January to 1 February 2026
Age rating: 16+
Duration: 90 minutes
Tickets: Free, available at www.sympla.com/armazemdautopia
Group bookings: WhatsApp +55 (21) 97976-0046
Service – Losango Cáqui
Losango Cáqui – Companhia do Latão
Opening: Wednesday, 4 February 2026
Venue: Teatro Vianinha, Armazém da Utopia, Armazém 6 do Cais do Porto, s/n – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Capacity: 200 seats
Time: 7 p.m.
Season: Wednesday to Saturday, 4–7 February 2026
Age rating: 12+
Duration: 75 minutes
Tickets: Free, available at www.sympla.com/armazemdautopia
Group bookings: WhatsApp +55 (21) 97976-0046
Photos: Companhia do Latão / Publicity
