Gabi On The Go: Nov. 5th - Back in London!

Those who know me, have heard that my life adventure started in London, England, almost 30 years ago. As a just graduated journalist, I moved to the capital of England, with little money, a rented room in the East Finchley neighbourhood, and 8 weeks of English school paid. What was suppose to be two months, turned into one year - 6 months and London and 6 months backpacking through Europe. Needless to say, I have a nostalgic happiness attached to this place.

The Heathrow Express (26 pounds) took me to Paddington Station in 15 minutes.

Since our first encounter, I have been back once with Mike and the girls, just before the pandemic. Today I come back alone, to recharge my batteries from a challenging year so far. It will be three days of flirting with this amazing city that has once opened my eyes for the world outside my island in Brazil.

I am staying in this "minuscule capsule" at Camden Town, my favourite London Neighbourhood.

Great location, if you enjoy lively areas, and affordable.

Hub By Premier Inn London Camden

115-119 Camden High Street, Camden Town, London, England, NW1 7JR United Kingdom

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camden_Town

Camden Town is an area in the London Borough of Camden, around 2.5 miles (4 km) north-northwest of Charing Cross. Historically in Middlesex, it is identified in the London Plan as one of 34 major centres in Greater London.

Laid out as a residential district from 1791 and originally part of the manor of Kentish Town, Camden Town became an important location during the early development of the railways, which reinforced its position on the London canal network. The area's industrial economic base has been replaced by service industries such as retail, tourism and entertainment. The area now hosts street markets and music venues associated with alternative culture.

The real reason I am here is to support my artists friends Marcio Beauclair and Renato Baldin - and their crew - who are participating of the Viola! Festival at the Etcetera Theatre. I can't wait to see the opening of Kill Your Father:

"When The Medea was originally written, it was performed only by men for a male audience. It’s time to change the narrative. KILL YOUR FATHER is for the feminists, the women, and their allies only."

Kill Your Father's director and friend Marcinho.

PLAY'S PRESS RELEASE:

Expandido is a collective of visual and performative artists founded by Canadian- Brazilian activist artists living in Toronto. Their work reflects on contemporary social and political issues through a queer and immigrant lens. They are immigrants because they exist outside the dominant culture and their own homeland, and queer because they stand outside heteronormativity.

Kill Your Father places the audience face to face with pressing political and social issues such as gender oppression, cultural coexistence in diversity, toxic masculinity, immigration, and patriarchy sickness. At the same time, it touches on deeply personal themes such as maternal and romantic love, the notion of unconditional affection, erotism, mental health, support networks, and loneliness.

All these themes coexist in this play thanks to the brilliant poetry of its author, the Brazilian, Black, lesbian, and feminist writer Grace Passô, as well as to the creative ensemble behind this production (Maria Paula Carreño- Martínez, Marcio Beauclair and Renato Baldin), which embodies, explores and elevates these perspectives in its performance to the maximum.

This play is an act of resistance and a bold call to take action.