'The tree and the rat' addresses the relationship between man and nature at the Waldemar Henrique Theater
Poetry, humor, and environmental criticism compose the narrative, leading the audience to reflect on responsibility, care, and hope
The stage of the Experimental Theater Waldemar Henrique, in Belém, hosted this Wednesday (19) the children's show "The tree and the rat", which moved children and adults by playfully addressing the importance of environmental preservation. The program is part of the COP Central, an initiative of the Climate Observatory that seeks to bring society closer to discussions about climate change during COP30, and is supported by the Cultural Foundation of Pará (FCP).
The play, starring artists Rose Tuñas and Breno Viana, brought to the stage a narrative that explores the interdependence between the elements of nature and the impact of human choices on the planet.
The story follows the coexistence between an ancient tree and a curious rat. Throughout the plot, the characters face challenges provoked by human action, such as deforestation, pollution, and climate change, leading the audience to reflect on responsibility, care, and hope.
Urgent themes - Among those present, occupational therapist and professor at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Cibele Nascimento, 38, highlighted the importance of art in dialogue with children about urgent themes. "I was able to integrate my children into the programming happening in the city, because children are not oblivious to these discussions, and these are discussions that will impact their present and future. When you combine culture, art, theater, it is a much more accessible language for them to understand. Using art as a form of communication for childhood is extremely important," she stated.
The children who attended the presentation reacted with laughter, questions, and enchantment in front of scenes that mixed fantasy and reality.
Maria Nascimento, 8, said she learned from the story "that if we don't preserve nature, we won't have things to eat. In the end, humans have to help all animals, for the good of all."
Rose Tuñas and Breno Viana reinforced the educational purpose of the show. Rose, who plays the rat, explained that "this idea arose from a meeting with educators around the book 'The Rat and the Mountain', by author Antonio Gramsci. From that, we created the adaptation of the tree and the rat. We started in a school format, and now we are in this more scenic proposal to convey the message of this issue we are experiencing at COP30: environment and collectivity."
Breno Viana, the "tree" of the play, highlighted the hope that the work seeks to convey.
"From the beginning, just knowing that the show would be directed at children, and that we could produce something from the creation of songs to the technical production, already encourages us. This gives us hope to move a molecule of this collective movement to enlighten these children and, who knows, really change the climate, which is the greater goal," said the actor.
The programming at the Waldemar Henrique Theater continues until Friday (21), with free activities, including workshops, cultural presentations, and debates on the environment and sustainability.
Text: Matheus Maciel - Ascom/FCP
