e-Portfolio
(2005-present) Actor, writer, performer, facilitator, producer, director
In parallel with science, the other passion from João is acting, writing and producing theatre performances. He has been part of several theatre, music clips, short movies, adverts, and live performances in Portugal, Germany, the United Kingdom and Ireland, since 2005.
In Ireland, where he resides, he co-founded Manifesto Galway, a permanent workshop on theatre targeted to adults who want to develop their communication skills and gain skills to be selected in screening and casting processes.
Acting, Theatre performance, Gallery curation
Ripples
A Waves of Change Art showcase
Waves of Change is a research project funded by the Marine Institute, that promotes sustainable development and circular economy values through ocean literacy and stakeholder engagement. It focusses essentially in Ocean Literacy. As part of this project, João organised a 1-day trip at sea with 6 selected artists, 1-month art residence in Galway and a weekend art showcase on the principles of Ocean Literacy. Below is the poster to the event, as well as links to the profiles of the 6 selected artists.
Endemic
This video is a digital play produced during the first time we were able to go outside again after the COVID-19 lockdown. It explores how different characters had to move their lives online, and how the internet lag causes movement and coordination to not be in sync. It also highlights the first time you are able to go out again, and how one needs to explore familiar places, and go back to basics to learn how to play with others, in a time when all of us are vulnerable.
Director: Hanahazukashi Mai, Xenia Cruz, João Frias, and Katya Radovanova
Acting: Hanahazukashi Mai, Xenia Cruz, João Frias, and Katya Radovanova
Film recording: Kevin Lennon
Film editing: Hanahazukashi Mai
Produced for Theatre Room Galway
2020
Endemic - a digital play about pandemic confinement
“Pain is necessary to remind us we are human”
Leave no Trace by Naomi Berrill
This community based art project funded by Creative Ireland, was coordinated by Music for Galway, in partnership with the Galway Atlantaquaria and the Atlantic Technological University. Over a period of three months, the participants learned about the ocean and the Irish coastal and marine environment through a series of dedicated workshop in Grattan Beach and in the local aquarium. The workshops explored diverse topics within ocean literacy. Naomi Berrill was tasked with writing an original piece to the project, which got the title of “Leave no Trace”. The video below shows that music piece
Project: Anna Lardi, Maria Vittoria Marra, Garry Kendelan, João Frias
With: Galway Jam Circle, Galway Camerata, Voice of Galway
Produced for Creative Ireland by Music for Galway
2024
Leave no Trace, original song from Naomi Berrill
As part of the Galway Bay is Calling project
The body is present and the heart is at play
This piece was the final output of the Galway Actors Workshop, and it took place in the Town Hall Theatre Studio room. It explored several exercises over the course of 6 weeks.
Director: John Rogers & Zita Monahan-McGowan
Scenography: Galway Actors Workshop
Acting: Emer, Nikki, Jess, Phillipa, Siobahn, David, João, Sajad.
Production: Galway Actors Workshop (Contact Sarah O’Toole)
2018
The Body is Present and The Heart is at Play
Final presentation in Galway Town Hall Theatre
Não se paga! Não se paga!
(Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay!)
Based on the original work from Dario Fo, Italian playwright, actor, theatre director and 1997 Noble Laureate, this play written in 1974 depicts working-class housewifes revolting against high prices by seizing food from supermarkets. It is a satirical critique of consumerism and economic hardhsip.
Director: Luciano Amarelo
Scenography: Teatro de Giz
Acting: David Figueras, Isabel Areosa, João Borges, João Frias, Pedro afonso, Susana Salema, Tomás Melo, Vanessa Santos.
Production: Teatro de Giz
2016
Não se paga, não se paga
From Dario Fo
Film noir - narrativas negras sobre rupturas na ordem das coisas
Inspired in the Film noir genre, this show explores diverse aspects about the fragility of balance in daily life. The starting point is a radio show, where each song is a scene from a different film noir scenario. Filled with heroes, anti-heroes, plot twists and femme fatales, this show takes the audience to a different world, far away, despite being so close, that you will see yourself there.
Director: Joana Craveiro (TdV)
Scenography and text: Joana Craveiro
Acting: Andreia Botelho, Elói Barros, Joana Mendes, João Frias, Lia Silva, Mariana Queiroz, Marta Vieira, Teresa Meira, Tiago Varanda
Production: NNT
2011
FILM NOIR - Dark narratives about rupture in the natural order of things
De Heróis está o Inferno cheio
Live gallery opening exploring the work of Heroes. In this piece inspired in the 12 Labours of Hercules, explored the third work, the Ceryneian Hind.
2010
Twelve Works by Lara Portela @ Plataforma Revolver
Photos: Lara Portela
Feinprobe Honigsüss
An artistic oversweet experience. This art residence in Germany was the foundation to the European Roots Movement Festival. It explores different themes and creative arts including writing, set design, acting, dancing, music and video producing, as a unique experience to the visitors. The selected artists from different European countries would meet for 4 weeks to co-create an entire show from scratch.
As part of the European Roots Movement 2010 | Wbmotion
Summer Residence in Lutherstadt-Wittenberg, Germany
Acting: João Frias, Nia Hudges (photos above)
2008 & 2010
Music Box
Feinprobe Honigsuss
Zonas
Is a workshop with a final presentation. In this workshop, João played a modern version of Humpty Dumpty in the wall, inspired in Lewis Caroll’s “Through the Looking-Glass”.
2010
Zona #3 - Geografias
As Cidades Impossíveis
Based on the book ‘Le città invisibili‘ by Italo Calvino, instead of having Marco Polo explaining to Kublai Kahn about how big their territory is, this play explores travel and journeys. The long and short commutes, the journeys to find oneself and the travels in crowded train, planes or boats. Based on the real life experiences of 10 actors and actresses, this show explores movies from John Cassavetes, and personal journeys by foot, train, or boat. Sometimes the travel is not of a person itself, but the love letters and postcards in wartimes, that bike journey across the country that made you achieve something else, or a dream that was so vivid to the top of the mountain, that nearly felt you were there. Like in a Schrödinger’s experiment, these cities may or may not exist.
Director: Joana Craveiro (TdV)
Scenography and text: Joana Craveiro
Acting: Andreia Botelho, Bruno Couto, Bruno Tibúrcio, Jorge Elias, Lia Silva, Maria Assunção, Mário Monteiro, Marta Vieira, Miguel Mota and Tiago Varanda
Production: NNT, João Frias
2009
Impossible cities
Based on Italo Calvino
Chez Kantor
Inspired in the life and work of Tadeusz Kantor, this show explores love and comedy during a War period. It explores birth, human connection, and suddenly having to follow orders because things have changed. The spirit of Kantor sometimes falls into each of the actors, taking turns on directing the others, just like he used to do in his work. Approved by the Polish Embassy in Portugal, this show made it to the experimental room of the Teatro Nacional D. Maria II, as an award after winning a prize in FATAL, the annual academic theatre festival of Lisbon.
Director: Pedro Manuel
Scenography: NNT
Acting: Bruno Couto, Bruno Tiburcio, João Frias, Lara Reis, Lia Silva, Teresa Meira, Tiago Varanda
Photos: Tania Araujo and Rute Martins
Production: NNT
2008
Chez Kantor
A Erva Vermelha
This play is the adaptation of ‘L’herbe rouge‘ by Boris Vian to the theatre stage. It is a surrealist play about an inventor who creates a machine to understand about how the world works. A series of characters are part of this surrealist experience, including Senator Dupont, a dying dog who only wants to see an ouapiti before passing away
Director: João Cleto
Video: Jorge Vaz
Music: NuSI, Ricardo Leota and Marco Andre
Scenography: NNT
Acting: João Frias, Daniel Mendes, Susana Castro, Hugo Costa, Marta Timoteo, Carolina Guibentif, Micaela Fonseca, Alexandre Lisboa, Ana Rita Almeida
Special Guest: Claudia Veiga
Poster Design: João Frias
Production: NNT
2006
The Red Grass
(L’herbe rouge by Boris Vian)
