A positive that emerges from the pandemic context is the first U.Porto Fest!

The scene is set: from 8 to 12 June there will be a team of amazing storytellers that will make it through the University of Porto; there will be inspiring stories, life moments to hold on to, collective imagined scenarios, poetry, even, or music and stand-up comedy by former students and teachers that have a strong liaison with the place they used to call “home” and thus create the unique and first U. Porto Fest.

The scene is set: from 8 to 12 June there will be a team of amazing storytellers that will make it through the University of Porto; there will be inspiring stories, life moments to hold on to, collective imagined scenarios, poetry, even, or music and stand-up comedy by former students and teachers that have a strong liaison with the place they used to call “home” and thus create the unique and first U. Porto Fest.

The context to the U.Porto Fest is the celebration of the 110 anniversary of the University of Porto. This unique festival invites the entire community - the academia of the UP and the general public – to join the celebrations of the 110 Anniversary of the University of Porto, which will last for five “cultural evenings”, in the patio of the Polo Central of the Natural History and Science Museum (MHNC-UP), in the building of the Rectory. Entrance is free and there will be a view to a starred sky.

The players are as follows:

Rui Ramos presents: U.Porto storytellers

UPorto Fest kick starts on 8 June, with Rui Ramos, former student of the Geology Course of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto will share some unknown stories about the Invicta. For instance, have you ever heard about “The Crime of the Rua das Flores?” Rui Ramos will let you in all the details on this episode that shocked the Portuguese society. And what about the hermitage that was once located in the precise space where the Rectory building stands today? Or the legend that involves the first King of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, the first Queen, D. Mafalda de Saboia, and a horse accident? And the Orphans School that once stood in that place? Rui Ramos will give a one-of-a-kind recount on all these details that helped “build the foundations of this monument to knowledge that is the University of Porto”, and one way to celebrate these “giants” is to share their stories”, adds the UP alumnus.

The Rector of the University of Porto, António de Sousa Pereira, and a representative of each faculty will also open the “curtain” on this first day of U.Porto Fest and share a story.

Seiva Trupe presents: Imagined Playacting

This playacting will refer to the highest representation of the institution – Minerva is the Roman goddess of wisdom and the sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy. The University’s special documents, such as diplomas and distinctive documents, such as diplomas.

This act will have the contribution of a violinist that will add to the theatre and the staging of the evening.

Rui Reininho presents: Retalhos sonoros – Jam Session

On 10 June, it is the evening when Rui Reininho, alumnus of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto (FLUP), and iconic singer of the band GNR, that features music genres as rock, jazz, folk and traditional music, without forgetting the spoken word moments.

Time to get to know other bands such as CRudE, just to mention a few.

Isabel Morujão presents: 110 Years, 110 Poems

The evening of 11 June will be the time to one’s delight with a true feast of Poetry. There are no fewer than 110 poems, representing the 110 years marked by this festival. It is time, as Isabel Morujão, professor at FLUP, puts it, “to relish the delight of spoken poetry”.

One of the highlights of such a terrific evening is the poem sang by the Orfeão Universitário do Porto, Garras dos Sentidos, which was written by Agustina Bessa-Luís for the singer Mísia.

All 110 poems will be organised in an anthology of Poets y the U.Porto.

Rui Xará presents: Stand UP

Rui Xará is somewhat a special character; he and some of his colleagues didn’t graduate but they would never miss their place at the table in the Piolho café. Rui Xará, the former student of the Faculty of Sciences of the U. Porto (FCUP) and one of the pioneers in Stand-up Comedy in our country, will “take the stage” on 12 June to revisit his former Faculty of Sciences, the recently rehabilitated Ferreira da Silva Lab and share plenty of stories.

All performances start at 9 pm and will talk place at the “Pátio do Museu, aka Patio of the Museum, at the Rectory of the U.Porto), entrance by the Cordoaria. It is worth mentioning that all health measures are in place, under the ongoing pandemic. Hand and foot wear sanitation are mandatory.

The five evening-events are entrance free, but previous registration is mandatory, via the Eventbrite portal. See here for further information.