The Joker System: An Experiment by the Arena Theatre of São Paulo

Abstract

After World War II, United States businessmen found it cheaper to run their own factories in Brazil, rather than ship goods from the U.S. They could profit from a low standard wage, and the factories would be closer to both the markets and the raw materials needed: steel, minerals, oil, etc. So it was decided to make São Paulo the largest industrial city in South America. U.S. money started pouring in, U.S. companies were granted enormous loans from Brazilian banks at low interest, and São Paulo soon became a prosperous city.The nouveau-riche bourgeoisie, created by this boom, invited important European theatre companies and artists to perform in São Paulo. Brazilian artists began to imitate them and imported directors, mainly from Italy, to build and train theatre companies in São Paulo. As a result, actors began to resemble Italian actors and playwrights European playwrights.