Globally Acclaimed Portuguese Theater Artist Tiago Rodrigues Brings International Hit "By Heart" To the Walker Art Center
“Miraculous … a communal act of translation.” –The New York Times (Critic’s Pick)
“The feeling of buoyancy and community that By Heart manages to achieve…. celebrates the essence of theater as something made by people in a shared space, together.” – THEATER TIMES (London)
Tiago Rodrigues begins By Heart with an assurance that everything will be “calm and normal.” What he omits is just how un-normal “normal” can be. The acclaimed Portuguese playwright proceeds to invite 10 volunteer collaborators on stage to learn a sonnet live, while weaving in personal stories and literary references. Inspired by his grandmother who must increasingly rely on memory as her vision deteriorates, the artist engages memory as a tool of resistance. In a time when key words and ideas are being scrubbed from the record, Rodrigues reminds us that it is we who are the keepers.
Tue–Wed, Oct 28–29, 7:30 pm
McGuire Theater
ABOUT TIAGO RODRIGUES
Born in Amadora, Portugal in 1977, Tiago Rodrigues is an actor, director, playwright, and producer who has become one of Europe’s leading figures in contemporary theatre. Since beginning his career 25 years ago, he has treated theatre as a space for human assembly—where people gather to share ideas and experiences. Early collaborations with the Belgian collective tg STAN shaped his egalitarian and ensemble-driven approach, a philosophy that carried into his own company, Mundo Perfeito, which he co-founded in 2003 and presented over 30 performances in more than 20 countries.
Rodrigues has created internationally acclaimed works including By Heart (2013), Bovary (2014), Sopro (2017), Catarina and the Beauty of Killing Fascists (2020), and The Cherry Orchard (2021), which premiered at the Festival d’Avignon. His projects often blend fact and fiction, rewrite classics, and emphasize writing with and for actors. Alongside his stage work, he has taught at leading institutions across Europe, written for film, television, and print, and collaborated widely with choreographers, dancers, and theatre artists.
Widely celebrated for his innovation, Rodrigues has received the XV Europe Prize Theatrical Realities, the Prémio Pessoa, the French title of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and Portugal’s Medal of Cultural Merit. From 2015–2021 he served as Artistic Director of Lisbon’s Teatro Nacional D. Maria II, leading a period of renewal and public engagement. In September 2022, he became Director of the Festival d’Avignon, where he continues to expand theatre’s boundaries and foster international dialogue
TICKETS
Ordering tickets is easy: visit walkerart.org/tickets or call 612-375-7600. Box office is open Wednesday–Sunday and one hour before performances
ACCESSIBILITY
For more information about accessibility, visit our Access page.
For questions on accessibility or to request additional accommodations, call 612-375-7564 or email access@walkerart.org.
STUDENTS COME EARLY
Students own the rush line! Get in line an hour before showtime for $15 rush tickets. One ticket per person with student ID. (Some restrictions apply.)
GET TOGETHER
Experience these performances in a group of 10 or more people and save 15% on tickets. Purchase group tickets online, over the phone, or in person. The discount is automatically applied at checkout on orders of 10 or more tickets to the same performance.
MEMBERS DO MORE
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ABOUT THE WALKER ART CENTER
The Walker Art Center is a renowned multidisciplinary arts institution that presents, collects, and supports the creation of groundbreaking work across the visual and performing arts, moving image, and design. Guided by the belief that art has the power to bring joy and solace and the ability to unite people through dialogue and shared experiences, the Walker engages communities through a dynamic array of exhibitions, performances, events, and initiatives. Its multiacre campus includes 65,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, the state-of-the-art McGuire Theater and Walker Cinema, and ample green space that connects with the adjoining Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The Garden, a partnership with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, is one of the first urban sculpture parks of its kind in the United States and home to the beloved Twin Cities landmark Spoonbridge and Cherry by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. Recognized for its ambitious program and growing collection of more than 16,000 works, the Walker embraces emerging art forms and amplifies the work of artists from the Twin Cities and from across the country and the globe. Its broad spectrum of offerings makes it a lively and welcoming hub for artistic expression, creative innovation, and community connection.