Brazilian theater icons Nívea Maria and Regiane Alves share a stage for the first time in ‘Querida Mamãe’, opening May 1st at Teatro dos 4 in Rio.
Some relationships are built on love — but also on absences, misunderstandings, and words that were never spoken. That is the emotional landscape of Querida Mamãe (Dear Mama), a new staging of the award-winning play by Maria Adelaide Amaral, opening May 1st, 2026, at Teatro dos 4, Shopping da Gávea, in Rio de Janeiro.
Directed by Pedro Neschling and starring Nívea Maria and Regiane Alves sharing the stage for the very first time, the production puts two women with opposing worldviews face to face — bound together by the unbreakable tie between mother and daughter.
A text born from real life
Inspired by Maria Adelaide Amaral‘s own relationship with her mother, the play stands as one of the most decorated works in Brazilian dramaturgy. It received the Molière, Mambembe, and Shell awards for best play, as well as the Governador do Estado de São Paulo, Ziembinski, APCA, and APETESP prizes. The text dives deep into the layers of the feminine universe, exposing the contradictions of a bond capable of both sheltering and wounding.
On stage, Ruth (Nívea) and Helô (Regiane) reunite in an apartment haunted by memories, resentments, and unresolved affections. On one side, a mother shaped by conservative values and the harshness of life. On the other, a daughter seeking to live with greater freedom — including in how she chooses to love.
A historic encounter between two iconic actresses
This production marks a symbolic meeting between two performers who have both inhabited the dramatic worlds of Maria Adelaide Amaral on television, and who now come together on stage for the first time. For Regiane Alves, the experience has been transformative: “This is the first time we’ve worked together. I’ve always followed and admired Nívea’s work, and it has been very special to exchange with such an experienced actress who is, at the same time, so open to listening and sharing. It is a professional achievement to work with someone who holds such a place in our collective emotional memory.”
The text is wonderful. The way communication difficulties, subtleties and nuances are presented, the layers behind what is said and what is not said — everything is incredibly rich. And when you have two actresses like these, you can find and explore multiple paths. I have a feeling this play will never be the same two nights in a row. — Pedro Neschling, director
An immediate connection with audiences
According to Nívea Maria, the audience’s connection to the play comes directly from the depth with which Amaral builds her characters. “Women identify with everything in this play — with every situation, every relationship, every opinion, every prejudice, and every act of acceptance. Because women are deeply complex, and the play shows that,” the actress explains.
Regiane Alves highlights the dual perspective the text gives her: “In the play, I play the daughter. But in real life, I’m also a mother. So there are lines and attitudes in the text that I’ve already lived through with my own son. It’s an important reflection for understanding these conflicts and seeing both sides — the mother’s and the child’s.”
For director Pedro Neschling, the production speaks directly to the present moment: “This is a very feminine show. It is important and timely to have it on stage now, when more than ever we are recognizing the importance of the struggle of women for their rights, their freedom, and their respect. It serves to nurture dialogue and understanding.”
Synopsis
In Querida Mamãe, Ruth (Nívea Maria) and Helô (Regiane Alves) face a reunion shadowed by memories, grievances, and affection. Between present-day conflicts and scars left by the past, mother and daughter expose their differences, vulnerabilities, and attempts at reconnection — in a sensitive and profound story about family bonds, the silences that push us apart, and the love that insists on remaining.
Event Info
- Show: Querida Mamãe
- Opening night: May 1st, 2026 (Friday)
- Season: May 1–31, 2026
- Showtimes: Friday and Saturday at 8 PM; Sunday at 7 PM
- Venue: Teatro dos 4 – Shopping da Gávea
- Address: Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 52 – Gávea, Rio de Janeiro
- Tickets: BRL 140 (full price) and BRL 70 (half price)
- Running time: 75 minutes
- Age rating: 12+
- Genre: Comedy
- Tickets available at: Sympla (https://bileto.sympla.com.br/event/118586/d/375659/s/2506492) and the theater box office
- Info: +55 (21) 2239-1095 / 97309-6234
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