The Trials and Passions of Unfamous Women

Janaina Leite is an actress, director, playwright, and postdoctoral researcher at the School of Communication and Arts at the University of São Paulo (USP). She is a reference in the Brazilian scene for research on “theatres of the real” with award-winning works such as Stabat Mater (Shell dramaturgy award in 2020) and the project Scopophilic Essays, researching the relationship between theatre and pornography in works such as  Camming 101 nights and History of the Eye – a porn-noir fairy tale. Her research focuses on hybrid languages, the obscene perspective that approximates theatre and performance, art and life, and diffuses borders between artistic practices and socio-cultural practices. Leite’s work has attracted interest outside Brazil, and she has been a guest in countries such as France, Spain, Portugal, Chile and Mexico. She is currently a part of Latin American playwrights’ program that compose the Bombon Gesell project based in Buenos Aires and was one of the Brazilian artists chosen to create an original work for the “Voices from the South” edition of The Edinburgh Festival in 2023.

Janaina published the books “Autoescrituras Performativas: do diário à cena” (Performative selfinscripcions: from the intimate diary to the scen) by Editora Perspectiva and “Conversas com meu pai + Stabat Mater – Uma trajetória de Janaina Leite” (Conversations with my father + Stabat Mater, a trajectory by Janaina Leite), launched by the Javali publishing house. In 2024 she will publish her next book “Ensaios sobre o feminino e a abjeção na (ob)scena contemporânea” (Essays on the feminine and abjection in the contemporary (ob)scene), through AnnaBlume publishing house.

Playwright, director, actress and researcher. Master’s in Performing Arts from UNICAMP with the research “Por uma dramaturgia monstra!”. BA in Performing Arts from UFBA, where she received a PIBIC scholarship for her research “Spoken writing: dramaturgy of storytelling”. Graduated in dramaturgy from SP Escola de Teatro. She was a member of the Base Theatre. Author of the book Gambiarras Sentimentais, published by Patuá. Performer, playwright and director of Pânico Vaginal (Vaginal Panic), which won awards at the São Paulo Short Film Week and the CRASH Fantastic Cinema Showcase. Organiser and curator of the “Jornadas Heroicas Possíveis” drama festival. Dramaturg and assistant director of the plays “Stabat Mater” (winner of the Shell Award for dramaturgy) “História do Olho” (nominated for the Shell Award for direction) and “Camming – 101 nights”, directed by Janaína Leite. She worked as an actress and assistant dramaturg in the play “Acúmulos”, directed by Kênia Dias and dramaturged by Márcio Abreu. Dramaturg for the play Capô, directed by Georgette Fadel. Librettist at the lyrical atelier of the São Pedro Theatre. As a performer and playwright, she worked on the play A Bunda De Simone, directed by Diego Pinheiro, which was nominated for best text by the BRASKEM theatre award. She took part in the História Sob Rocha project, directed by Daniel Guerra, as part of the programme for the International Festival of Performing Arts. She is the creator of the stage performance “Como Medeia Para Minha Mãe” and the play “Re-Medeia”.

Rachel Valentine Smith is director for stage and screen and a freelance artist working across projects nationally and internationally.

Rachel is fomer Co-Artistic Director of The Faction for which her credits include DUENDE (Wiltons Music Hall/Stephen Joseph); MLD (short film); MEDEA (short film); (Toronto Womens Film Festival Best Director Nominee); LEAR/الملك لير (Masrah Al Madina, Beirut); MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (UnFashioned Theatre commission); VASSA (Southwark Playhouse); METAMORPHOSIS & FAUST (Wiltons Music Hall); ROMEO & JULIET; THEBES; BLOOD WEDDING (New Diorama Theatre and UK Tours)

Further directing credits include: PLAYWRIGHTS PATHWAYS (Royal Court Theatre); MY NAME IS RACHEL CORRIE (Zoukak Theatre, Beirut – British Council and EUNIC commission); NO DEMAND NO SUPPLY (Gate Theatre/Shubbak Festival); SAHAR SPEAKS; REFRACTIONS; NIGHTCLUB (Theatre503). Other curated invents include The Abolitionist Dinner Party and Letters to Leaders.

Rachel has recently completed her tenure as Creative Associate for Clean Break and is currently a Trustee for NSDF.