Companhias de Arlequins: : o resgate de uma tradição popular esquecida nas feiras de Lisboa

In Lisbon, the fairs and their amusements were one of the most popular manifestations of popular culture during the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Among the entertainment on offer, theater was one of the most appreciated, but history has only kept the memory of the shacks that, in the fairs, began to feature a recited repertoire (comedies, parodies, magic and revues). The tents of harlequins and saltimbancos, itinerant troupes that went from place-toplace performing acrobatics, pantomimes, and comic sketches, were forgotten. This article aims to highlight popular theater practices that were once ‘forgotten’, such as the troupes of harlequins and their shows, redefining their importance in the context of the time and the history of theater in Portugal.À Lisbonne, les foires et leurs divertissements ont été l’une des manifestations les plus frequentées de la culture populaire au cours de seconde moitié du XIXe siècle et le début du XXe siècle. Parmi les divertissements proposés, le théâtre était l’un des plus appréciés, mais l’histoire n’a gardé que le souvenir des échoppes qui, dans les foires, commençaient à présenter un répertoire récité (comédies, parodies, féries et revues). Les tentes des arlequins et des saltimbancos, troupes itinérantes qui, d’un pays à l’autre, présentaient des acrobaties, des pantomimes et des scènes comiques, ont été oubliées. Cet article vise à remettre en lumière des pratiques théâtrales populaires autrefois ‘oubliées’, telles que les troupes d’arlequins et leurs spectacles, en redéfinissant leur importance dans le contexte de l’époque et de l’histoire du théâtre au Portugal.Em Lisboa, as feiras e os seus divertimentos foram uma das mais concorridas manifestações da cultura popular durante a segunda metade do século XIX e o início do século XX. Entre os divertimentos oferecidos, o teatro era um dos mais apreciados, mas a história apenas guardou a memória das barracas que, nas feiras, passaram a apresentar repertório declamado (comédias, paródias, mágicas e revistas). Votadas ao esquecimento ficaram as barracas de arlequins e saltimbancos, trupes ambulantes que, de terra em terra, apresentavam acrobacias, pantomimas e cenas cómicas. Este artigo pretende trazer à ribalta práticas de teatro popular outrora ‘esquecidas’, como as trupes de arlequins e os seus espetáculos, redefinindo a sua importância no contexto da época e da História do Teatro em Portugal