Cordélia Brasil returns with a powerful reflection on gender

Directed by João Fonseca, Antonio Bivar’s classic comes back in a moving new version that exposes gender inequality and ageism.

After sold-out performances in previous seasons, the new production of “Cordélia Brasil” arrives at the Women on Stage Festival at the Centro Cultural Justiça Federal, downtown Rio, for a short run from March 6 to 29, with shows on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 7 p.m. Blending humor and melancholy, the play highlights the absurd limits faced by women in a patriarchal society.

Set in a rundown studio apartment in Rio, the story follows Cordélia, played by Paula Goja, who struggles against poverty and her apathetic husband Leônidas (Antonio Pina). To survive, she works as an office assistant and begins to sell her body to support him. When Rico (Pedro Pedruzzi) enters their lives, the fragile balance shatters, exposing a web of dependence, irony, and emotional survival.

Written in 1968, “Cordélia Brasil” remains deeply relevant. Bivar’s sharp writing challenges ageism and gender oppression, while Fonseca’s direction balances social criticism with vibrant theatrical energy. The result is a performance that resonates with today’s audience, asking whether society has truly advanced in female empowerment.

The play is presented by Persona Produções, known for acclaimed works such as “The Illiterates”, “I Want to Be Regina”, and “Minefield”.

Service

CORDÉLIA BRASIL

Dates: March 6–29

Venue: Centro Cultural Justiça Federal – Av. Rio Branco, 241, Downtown Rio de Janeiro

Sessions: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 7 p.m.

Tickets: R$ 40 (full) and R$ 20 (half)

Sales: https://www.sympla.com.br/evento/cordelia-brasil/3318269

Duration: 75 minutes | Age rating: 16+

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cordelia_brasil_/

Photo: Divulgação